Over the past year, local groups like Lahaina Strong showed up at the legislature and developed comprehensive plans for Lahaina’s recovery.  They had major victories and secured substantial funding for the community.  Long term locals also held public meetings, formed nonprofits, and vetted plans with neighbors.  The one thing these plans all have in common is that they put local needs above the profits of developers.  But without new leadership, these plans will be ignored just like the Maui Island Plan and the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan.  Why?  Because Alice Lee, Tom Crook, and Yuki Lei Sugimura  take thousands of dollars from luxury home and hotel developers.  This is a fact and public record.  This is important for Lahaina’s recovery after the fires because Alice Lee, Tom Crook, and Yuki Lei Sugimura continue to make development decisions that help these luxury developers instead of helping locals.

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New leadership is important because the Maui County Council has the power to regulate land use, water rights, environmental protection, and where and how to develop housing. These things matter.  I will listen to locals and help Councilmember Paltin make fundamental changes to Maui's laws. I will use my 20 years' of legal experience to battle for what is right.  I am not a typical attorney, and I am not a typical haole.  My passion is to help restore Hawaiian lands and water rights above all else.  That means making up for generations of marginalization and colonialization.  I am an ally.  Put me to work.  

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