I think thats something that should be done, not only in the police department, but in all city departments throughout the city government. Im also in favor of looking at maybe real property tax deferral, where they dont have to pay it now, but they can pay it later. We need to look at maybe elongating the financing of the rail project, but we need to finish the rail project. I wonder, What got them to that point. I think of my own mom, who has mental illness and was on the brink of homelessness many times, if not for her family and friends. Well, to stay on this topic for just a minute, because its so big, not just from TMT, but here on Oahu alone, you mentioned Sherwoods. More so when she was living on her own, and thats another thing people dont realize, theres different levels of mental illness. Born on September 1, 1965 in United States, Keith Amemiya started his career as business executive and politician . Well, first, they were breaking the law, and thats not right. This Endless I had an office in the downtown area and it just wasnt a good environment for the homeless or the Chinatown merchants and shop-goers. I think that was clear to everyone that thats too many tourists. ", "Musings from Manoa: Amemiya right man for top job", "Wishing a wonderful 55th birthday to our humble leader and friend, Keith, today from Team Amemiya!! We know how it worked out, now Sherwoods is finally off the table, but it seemed like people were listening and reaching out in the community. That may change by the time this interview airs, but I think people are crying out for restoring trust, for seeing in the George Floyd marches across the country. There were cell block beatings, the scandal where they were selling food out of the police stations kitchen that was meant for prisoners, things like that were happening. We have lost trust with the public. Not me. Im a firm believer, when I was on the commission 10 years ago, Im a firm believer now, that any effective oversight body, especially one involving the police and law enforcement, needs transparency and accountability. So I dont wanna speculate. You need to surround yourself with honorable, decent people who always do the right thing. And by the way, Civil Beat has reported over the years on a lot of bad cops. Contact & Personal Details. Thats the way I look, when you have a cold, you go to the doctor. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. And Im wondering two things: One, when you make an answer to Colin, Oh i dont really want to look at that. At the time, he was a young civil litigation attorney and Bonny (formerly Suzui) was the CFO of a local fast food chain. Mental illness is a problem that no one wished upon themselves, they cant help it, and I was frustrated Im still frustrated at the lack of services, the lack of awareness, the lack of priority by government to address that concern. You know, I never held it against her. Well, we need to look at overhauling through the department. When I was in charge of the (HHSAA), I had the opportunity to visit every community on this island. The mayor has appointed some two new people, and well see whether they do a good job. Prior to this pandemic crisis, the city was in pretty good financial shape. Homes on the North Shore, when the tide is up, what are you gonna do about this? He also served as Executive Director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. So Im in support of that. So, none of those incidents that you mentioned were brought to our attention. Executive Director, Central Pacific Bank Foundation. Well, by all accounts, they rushed it. As one of Amemiyas first actions as Executive Director, CPB Foundation awarded The Salvation Army's Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division a $100,000 grant to support their Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) program located in Nuuanu. And its important to work well with state government; we have a small state, where everyone knows each other. We cant afford to pay back over $800,000,000 in federal subsidies that weve already received for the rail project, and we also need to ensure that rail is completed, so that we can proceed with transit oriented development. A huge shot in the arm for your campaign, but also it seems to it also comes with strings attached. Im for open communication, transparency, we need to make it easier for people to have their say, and technology has proven that you can do it. I support Hawaii Tourism Authoritys movement to Huliau or transform towards a kamaina-driven visitor model, focused on bringing the right visitors that are respectful and mindful of their impact on the local community. MARK GALACGAC PHOTO. And its something that never goes away. Over time, yes, you realized something was amiss with her. Like it or not, its almost finished. The additional space at the Hawaii State Hospital is a start, but we need long-term treatment facilities for our communities that dont require someone to hurt another person before they receive care. Would you continue that practice. Thats my intent. There are far more resources available to the homeless in the Iwilei area, which is fairly close by, and we need to do what we can to divert them to that area. The current administration, the city is undergoing a climate action plan. Like they went to a neighborhood board, had it on the agenda, three people showed up, it got approved and they moved on. Number two, requiring an affirmative duty of an officer to intervene if a fellow officer is engaged in wrongdoing, especially in the use of physical force. And as the mayor, you can control a couple of things in that regard. We need to allow to submit testimony on line, whether it be a Skype or FaceTime or Zoom. from the William S. Richardson School of Law. I think hes very gifted in that way. I got to meet a lot of working-class people, and I got to learn about their issues and their challenges first-hand. Im very indebted to them for helping me. Amemiya testified before a federal grand jury Thursday. They should have more ability to investigate wrongdoing in city government. Keith brings a wealth of knowledge, relationships and experience to CPB Foundation, said Catherine Ngo, Chair, CPB Foundation. What would you do differently than current and previous mayors? They provided a lifeline to me, they provided love, compassion, they provided structure to me, they proved to me that all it takes is one family or one person or set of people to show they care and it can uplift you and change your life trajectory. The more dialogue, the more feedback, the better for everyone. I worry about her today, shes in a care home now, but still, I think about her constantly. Well, I think we have to wait and see. It wasnt evident if you saw her and spoke to her maybe one or two times. I think thats a great opportunity to look at retooling the jobs that they did, modernizing the jobs that they did and making it more efficient. We can look at financing, interest rates are still relatively low, we can look at partnerships with the private sector. The Amemiyas Christopher, Keith and Bonny currently call Pauoa home. The stories found here discuss the Financial issues and challenges unique to our island home. They have failed to deliver a true living wage or paid family leave. Im sorry. I will continue enforcement as long as we find more shelter beds. he is one of famous business executive and politician with the age 55 years old group. You deal with broad constituencies, you deal with every community. Theyre trying to find a contract with a group of companies that would not only build the last stage of the rail, but also will maintain it and run it for the next 30 years at a price that is affordable to the city. I support resuming tourism, but not at the 10 million visitors a year amount. Thats what mayors do, thats what leaders do, is find solutions to very difficult situations. The Amemiyas were not alone. Are you gonna tell a hotel, Hey, you gotta move a mile inland, or 500 feet. What are you gonna do about that? We need to do all of that, because housing is in short supply on the island. And unless you provide specifics, I dont remember any major controversies at the time involving the police chief or the police department. We need to identify state lands that make sense for housing our communities. Work with community organizations to go beyond just saying no and move into envisioning what we are willing and wanting to say yes to affordable housing in their communities. We need to be creative. [19], Amemiya met his wife, Bonny (ne Suzui), in 1995 when she was the CFO of a local fast food chain. I dont wanna say somethings gonna be cut until we know the true situation in terms of the citys finances a year from now. Ill answer the resistance to change part first. So what do you say to those folks who have some sort of vacation rental, what even to you do to them if youre mayor? Stopping it actually makes a situation worse again. What would you do as mayor to try to curb that? So just how does Amemiya plan on curing the citys ills? I have no opinion on that. Were currently 22,000 units short on Oahu. We need to pivot towards a more multi-modal transportation system. Keith Amemiya, an Oahu businessman, attorney and former director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, announced on Tuesday that he is running for mayor of Honolulu. Now, in terms of the project, you are talking about, transit-oriented development is one area where we can utilize to build more housing. But clearly the current systems not working, and when I ran high school sports in Hawaii, and it was obviously a state-wide organization, it sounds simple, but it worked, in my opinion very well. Most people, most politicians are saying they want to bring back a lower level of tourism. in Philosophy at Colgate University. Its pretty powerful people that are very well connected, and very entrenched, you might even say, Are you really your own man, or are other people pushing you to take this job? Box 1777, Honolulu, HI 96806. They already are in Kaaawa and places like that. Thats why Im big on rail, thats why I wanna emphasize multi-modal transportation. So every situation is different, and in some cases, my sense is that the developers checked every box that they were supposed to check. Were fortunate. Keith Amemiya (born September 1, 1965)[2][3][4] is an American business executive and politician who ran in the 2020 Honolulu mayoral election,[5][6] and in 2022 for lieutenant governor of Hawaii. We need to automate, first and foremost. Theres only a few hundred shelter beds available at any one time, so in the meantime, when there is this immediate situation, would you continue enforcement? I strongly support diversifying our local economy, and driving tourism in a more regenerative direction. [7] Before running for elected office, he was the senior vice president of Island Holdings, Inc., starting in 2012, and executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association from 1998 to 2010. And there were a certain amount of units for working-class or middle-class and below families. Keith calls Honolulu, HI, home. In the primary, former U.S. representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district Colleen Hanabusa, former state senator John Carroll, and former mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann were eliminated along with many other candidates. Keith Amemiya is on Facebook. Senator Brian Schatz, and was appointed by several state leaders to serve on citizen boards, including the Honolulu Police Commission, Hawaii Board of Education, and Aloha Stadium Authority board.[2]. So my wife and I built, bought a unit in 801 South Street, and to be clear, there was a certain percentage of units made available through the open public or general public. Now granted, I had a lot of help with that, but it was through my initiative to do that, and Im proud of giving girls more opportunities. I know the Hawaii Community Foundation has been helping a lot, Aloha United Way has helped a lot, the Hawaii Foodbank, and just us as a citizenry, we always come through for each other. Were on an island. Working closely together, they got to know and like each other. Amemiya is a member of a number of boards, including the Aloha Stadium Authority, Marcus Mariotas Motiv8 Foundation, and Assets School. The couple married in 1996, and three years later welcomed their only child, Christopher (named after Amemiyas best friend), into their world. So I think if you cut down on that, itll help the over-tourism that we all felt. The power of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor can be used to coordinate and work between state agencies, convene working groups for departments working on housing issues, and streamline existing processes. Again, this is another example of why we need new leadership. But if not, were gonna have to look at making changes, whether its alterations to the rail station or the like. End financial conflicts of interest Would you be willing to freeze or reduce city worker salaries, for example? Its legal. Commissioner, right, you actually ran that back under Mayor Hannemann, if I remember correctly, Hannemann. No, not the law, so much. Are you the most liberal candidate running from mayor? bike to work, walk to work, catch the bus to work. "Keith brings a wealth of knowledge, relationships and experience to CPB Foundation," said Catherine Ngo, Chair, CPB Foundation. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 13, 2022. Many residents and business owners often and rightfully felt confused, fearful, and uncertain with restrictions and recovery plans. Number one, the police chief is already doing it, looking into whether chokeholds should be altered or eliminated altogether. Well, that was a lot more than three words. Everythings okay, weve heard you, youve had a chance to voice your concerns, but were moving ahead. Would you support that project? Were looking at in just a few decades or less, with even just a few feet of sea level rise, those being inundated, and that means roads are gonna be falling to the sea. The state needs to work with the counties to ensure zoning regulations help support development for residential housing. Amemiya earned his BBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his J.D. I mean, why not? Its hard to make ends meet. Her work seeks to hold the government accountable for how it spends money and makes decisions that affect people's lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw firsthand the food insecurity that was caused when the schools shut down, and many families went without meals. And thats one of the first priorities that I want to take. Japanese in Hawaii are the state's second-largest ethnic group, and Amemiya would have been the first mayor of Honolulu of Japanese ancestry. Theyre part of the problem. Over the years, Amemiya has given the . 500 Ala Moana Blvd. HONOLULU, HI | February 25, 2021 Central Pacific Bank Foundation (CPB Foundation) announces the appointment of Keith Amemiya as its Executive Director. Young people are leaving our state in alarming numbers, and we cant attract and retain essential workers because Hawaii is simply not affordable. Our future generations have been overlooked for far too long, and we need to build our future for them. To his credit, he didnt buckle under pressure. As a teenager, it must have been particularly difficult, you know, cause we all have difficult relationships with our moms, and I just wondered, did it take a long time to forgive her? Lack of collaboration, partisan divide, pettiness, you name it. Sometimes youre not gonna come to an agreement, but when the public feels that at least theyve had a say in the matter, it makes life a lot easier now to add to that. So, hearing you say a lot about communication, that Im seeing two examples, all very fresh with very different outcomes and a lot of different interpretations of what actually happened. In listening to communities across the state, I believe that first and foremost, the people of Hawaii deserve someone they can trust and who will passionately fight for their interests. Well, it was clearly incompetence. By surrounding himself with a trusted campaign staff that is as resolute as he is, this first-time political candidate has positioned himself as a favorite in the upcoming Honolulu mayoral race. While their stays are at best only over the summers and school breaks, these student-athletes are no doubt appreciative of the generosity demonstrated by the Amemiyas. Keith, what would you propose to do about the homeless situation, specifically in Chinatown, because (the Institute for Human Services) tried to create a facility there that failed because of push back by the business community. Coordination of evidence-based and research-driven practices for community-wide testing and vaccinations. I know their issues. PHOTOS COURTESY KEITH AMEMIYA. With 23.2% of the vote, Amemiya placed third in the 2022 Democratic primary election for Hawaii lieutenant governor and was thus eliminated. I do believe that whenever Hawaii has an opportunity to be the worlds leader in a field, when we can further the discovery of our universe, and when we can create more high paying jobs on Hawaii Island, we need to strongly consider it. Keith Amemiya [2][3][4] is an American business executive and politician who ran in the 2020 Honolulu mayoral election,[5][6] and in 2022 for lieutenant governor of Hawaii. Everyone has some relative or friend who has mental illness, and its its like any other illness. Ive led large statewide organizations. I dont have to point out that most of our infrastructure, including the tourism sector and Waikiki, including the downtown business area, the Honolulu International Airport, these sewage treatments plants, the power plants all of that is on the coast. In 1971, he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ryan's Daughter. Those things do take time, though. And people only started to protest when they actually saw the bulldozers come in, and at that time, the mayor, perhaps expressing some tone deafness on his part, did not want to stop the project. Chad, why dont you go ahead and start. We talk with Keith about the reasons why he's running for lieutenan. But on the other hand, I also think of a mom and her child on a stroller walking along a sidewalk and being afraid or having to navigate around a homeless person. Together with families across the state, we have worked to solve chronic problems for the past few decades, including increasing funding in our rural communities and creating equal access to sports for women and girls. Remember, one-third of the people in this state actually voted for President Trump. And I think the Galapagos Islands and other tourist locals (use them). Its a important viable alternative means of transportation for us on this island. He is the Chairman of the Board for two of the subsidiaries, Atlas Insurance Agency and Pacxa (IT company). 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