Everyone tells me that the system in the Department of Planning and Permitting is outdated. Yet, Amemiya apparently did well enough over time to convince her that he was the one. They married in 1996 and have a son. Well, theres no good place for homeless people to stay, but Chinatown is not one of the places we should focus on. I have dedicated my career to public service by working directly in every community statewide throughout my career. The mayoral candidate joins 100 supporters during a sign-waving outing in East Oahu. 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. His leadership is proving invaluable to hit the ground running, forging a bright path forward beyond the current pandemic and continuing our mission of supporting Hawaii communities.. Reviews. I view my lack of direct experience in politics as a plus. ThinkTech Hawaii streams live on the Internet from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Hawaii time most weekdays, then we stream our earlier shows all night long. There are many inspirational things happening in different parts of our community that can each help to build exciting opportunities for Hawaiis future. After graduating from Punahou in 1983, Amemiya studied finance and law at the University of Hawaii at Mnoa, where he earned his degrees. Reaching out to the public, you need to make sure the public knows. The project has a least another five or six years, I think, to completion. The stories found here discuss the Financial issues and challenges unique to our island home. 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. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. I used to spend weekends with them often, and one day they asked me, or told me like, Hey, why dont you live with us?' Theres a lot of city employees that are retiring in the coming years. Priorities such as building water and infrastructure capacity for housing, down payment assistance, and investing in diversified industries are all important for our continued economic recovery. Thats why Im big on rail, thats why I wanna emphasize multi-modal transportation. You know, not all residential areas that are on the seashore are high-end residential areas. I had to work multiple jobs bussing tables, working as a legal messenger and unloading shipping containers for a trucking company. How do you get a change in the economic type of person coming to Hawaii? I mean, why not? I dont know, Im just thinking out loud, and maybe the city will acquire that property for them, or the state, and that in turn will help find them a new house and pay for it. Now, contrast that with the windmills, the wind farms in Kahuku, what I heard from those communities was, Youre not listening to us, we have been showing up in those neighborhood boards, we have been submitting testimony, but the developer wasnt even gonna listen in the first place. Of course, we saw how that was settled. My family was having some problems and I was taken in by my best friends family. He is the Chairman of the Board for two of the subsidiaries, Atlas Insurance Agency and Pacxa (IT company). Thats a function of poor communication between government and our citizenry, and thats something that I wanna emphasize as mayor. Everywhere I go around this island, people tell me they want change. We need to change our mindset. Let me ask though, other candidates in the race have been making a lot of accusations about fraud, corruption, contractor, even theft from the system. He also served as Executive Director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. Thats the aloha spirit at work, and those who are fortunate need to help those who are less fortunate. What makes you the leader that voters should trust to lead Oahu out of this pandemic crisis? MARK GALACGAC PHOTO. Keith has got a good skill-set when it comes to dealing with people and making connections with them, observes wife Bonny. Additionally, state government operates in silos much too often. They started that way, and they dont have the resources to pick up and move. I mean, we dont need to go to that point yet, but again we need to change the mindset that everyone does not have to own a car and that we need to explore other modes of transportation. Theyve had their chance. Keith Amemiya is a candidate in the 2020 Honolulu mayoral election.. We need to look at maybe elongating the financing of the rail project, but we need to finish the rail project. Waimanalo, were telling you, you you need to show up at Pope Elementary cafeteria this Thursday night. What would a future generation of Hawaii say about you in three words? When I was in charge of the (HHSAA), I had the opportunity to visit every community on this island. Former Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz developed a team to pursue federal funding, something we should reconstitute to secure the billions needed for our state. If anything, people on the community level, in the working class level, theyve asked me to run up for office for years and years, and I resisted for various reasons. 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. It could be it could be a policy position or even just a personal philosophy. To remain at our site, click BACK. Thats no longer gonna happen. A clear, number one, we didnt flip it for a profit even though we could have done so. Everyone has some relative or friend who has mental illness, and its its like any other illness. We need to automate, first and foremost. PHOTOS COURTESY KEITH AMEMIYA. Ban fundraising during the legislative session HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With Hawaiis primary election getting closer by the day, the five leading candidates for Honolulu mayor sat down for an extensive, hour-long job interview with journalists from Hawaii News Now and Honolulu Civil Beat in an attempt to find out which candidate was most qualified for the citys top job. Mauna Kea is a special place for Hawaii, for spirituality, and for the universe. Do you support that, given what you just said about the hotel industry, and what mechanisms do you think there is there within the power of a mayor to actually control the flow, the number and the type of tourists? Well, we need to look at overhauling through the department. It was 1995 when Amemiya first crossed paths with the woman who would become his life partner. And put all hands on deck. What do you for them? Contact & Personal Details. 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. Lack of collaboration, partisan divide, pettiness, you name it. Its worked in other cities, and I can;t see why it wont work in urban Honolulu. Well, Id like to think that my hallmark, my background, is based on trust and integrity. Thats the way we can get out of this. Well, first, they were breaking the law, and thats not right. The same can be said for using the states commercial and industrial holdings as potential sites for technology companies in the biotechnology and innovative technology sectors. In supporting my mother and her challenges with mental health, I have seen firsthand the lack of resources needed for individuals and families. Collin Moore, Hawaii News Now Political Analyst: Is there one or two big ideas that voters should connect with your candidacy? Keith, this election is about future generations, our keiki. I created a separate girls golf as a sport. It is important that we come from a place in these discussions of knowing and respecting that wahi pana. Whoever was involved in the beginning of the project before construction. And the names you hear are Kirk Caldwell, the current mayor, or people with the last name Amemiya working for the administration, or former Attorney General, Colbert Matsumoto, Duane Kurisu. We wanted to move along to some questions about police. Can I ask, you do talk openly about your mom's mental illness, and I know that must have been very difficult for you. Keith, one of the major contributors here to the carbon, to our carbon footprint, is road transportation. What would you do as mayor to try to curb that? On his campaign. We just wanted to launch into the questions for this job interview. Well, one area to look at is the city has approximately 1,000 vacancies right now, and theyve had that out of their 10,000-employee workforce for several years. It clearly is, and we need to take action now. What's one of the more difficult periods of your life and how did you lift yourself out of it? "Keith brings a wealth of knowledge, relationships and experience to CPB Foundation," said Catherine Ngo, Chair, CPB Foundation. Ive been able to bring people together, Ive been able to collaborate, and Ive been able to find solutions through team work. Most importantly, we need to be pau with the reasons why no can and start getting it done. [19], Amemiya met his wife, Bonny (ne Suzui), in 1995 when she was the CFO of a local fast food chain. There are shelter beds available, we need to get the homeless people to the shelter. Anyone who lives in those areas have an expectation that there will be tourist as their neighbors. You have a heart condition, you go to the doctor. As Bonny puts it, When you spend a lot of time with someone, I guess they just grow on you.. 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. Keith Amemiya ( Democratic Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. Its not for personal gain, for wealth or fame, but its to fix problems and make the community better.. Sir John Mills CBE (born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills; 22 February 1908 - 23 April 2005) was an English actor who appeared in more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades. Their oldest son, Chris, was my best friend. But in regular neighborhoods, quote unquote, clearly Im against them. Since 2007, he has donated $63,400 to local and state political campaigns, according to state data. When you look at the Mauna Kea movement and how it has sparked conflicts over projects, what do you tell the nervous developers who have already received the green light by government, and what do you tell the police who have to enforce the law, and native Hawaiians who are willing to protest and put their lives at risk for their causes? Thats my goal. This is an economic situation changing by the week, changing by the month, its unprecedented. In addition to creating long-term housing that our families can actually afford, the state has neglected supporting the mental health needs of our community. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. And thats what I intend to do as mayor. I worry about her today, shes in a care home now, but still, I think about her constantly. Mayoral candidate @keithamemiya joins me to discuss all of the issues we as a community are dealing with in the unprecedented time. Homelessness Mental He. We need to pivot towards a more multi-modal transportation system. I read through it, but to be honest, I cant memorize it line by line. Can you tell us a little bit about that? And I have a lot of support on the grassroots. At the time, he was a young civil litigation attorney and Bonny (formerly Suzui) was the CFO of a local fast food chain. Keith Amemiya (born 1965 or 1966) is an American business executive and politician who ran in the 2020 Honolulu mayoral election. Theyre experienced in being involved in politics their whole career, theyre experienced in running for different offices every election cycle. Its important for a mayor to lead by example, and right now the public has little trust in government and political leaders, says Amemiya. If a developer, for instance, followed the law, they did reach out to people such as the Kahuku windfarm. You know, you bringing up now, talking about tourism, a lot of people are coming off of our 10 million tourist year and then actually having a sort of vacation from the tourists right now. Commissioner, right, you actually ran that back under Mayor Hannemann, if I remember correctly, Hannemann. Homes on the North Shore, when the tide is up, what are you gonna do about this? BUSINESS BANKING Beyond the Basics is a blog dedicated to nancial literacy in Hawaii. That Im running for them. Keith Y Amemiya: Address 1942 Lusitana St Apt C, Honolulu, HI Keith Amemiya, 56 Summary Court Records Reviews Contact & Personal Details Relatives & Associates Keith Amemiya is 56 years old today because Keith's birthday is on 09/01/1965. 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. But I also think we can do things like focusing on higher end tourists, higher quality tourists, tourists that spend more money, as opposed to the bargain basement tourists that weve had that havent really added to our bottom line, so to speak, in terms of quality of life and revenue to our hotel workers. I also believe we need to improve in the following areas: Clearer, more consistent communication to the public, with coordination from all levels of government and business and community leaders. Amemiya, 54, has made the story of his upbringing a central part of his campaign. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. His mother suffered from mental illness and Keith was brought up by various relatives until he moved in with a friend whose father, Bert T. Kobayashi Jr., became Keith's hnai father. Remember, one-third of the people in this state actually voted for President Trump. But you also have to do your homework and show them on paper, and once you get a track record of success, then the next time you propose something, theyre more open to it.. Amemiya testified before a federal grand jury Thursday. Keith, speaking about Governor Ige, obviously, one of the things the mayor will have to do is work closely with the governor and with the legislature, particularly now, in the recovery from COVID. Let me ask one more question, and along those lines, you were on the commission, there were problems with the police department when you were on the commission too. It wasnt evident if you saw her and spoke to her maybe one or two times. To him, it was just another way of giving back to the community while also paying homage to the family who took him in and taught him, among other things, how to be plucky and stand on his own two feet. And Im proud to say that weve had multiple Olympians from Hawaii because of girls wrestling being a high school sport. Our future generations have been overlooked for far too long, and we need to build our future for them. Whoever was involved in the project before the construction started. Access and information to ensure that peoples basic needs are met, such as food and housing. We also need to improve our resiliency as a community so we dont suffer the fallout from another economic shutdown. With executive leadership experience in both the public and private sector, Amemiya has unique insight to the multitude of issues facing Hawaii, coupled with the ingenuity to forge impactful solutions through public-private partnerships. We have heard in the middle of this pandemic from behavioral health specialists that they are deeply concerned that depression will get worse, domestic violence, all of these other issues will get worse because of the pandemic. We need to restore trust in government. 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. Keith Amemiya, thank you so much for coming here today. At a time when we could face a financial struggle in the city government, you mentioned building more infrastructure and allowing more density in the urban core for affordable housing? I was pleased to see the hard work of the working group that was composed of voices from various perspectives that I believe all care about Hawaii and our special places. Name on ballot: Keith Amemiya Running for: Lieutenant Governor Political party: Democrat Campaign website: amemiyaforlg.com/ Current occupation: Executive Director, Central Pacific Bank. There are hardly any services in Chinatown. The police were sent in, and now those windmills are going up, those wind farms. Yes, I did, and thats one of my proudest achievements. I added several female sports that didnt exist before, whether its girls golf prior to that, the girls have to compete with the boys for the championship, that was unfair. But people say, Who told you to run? He lost in the Democratic primary on August 13, 2022. The ATS program is a 66-bed licensed and accredited residential treatment facility for men and women offering confidential assessment, individualized treatment planning, private one-to-one counseling, group counseling sessions, cognitive restructuring, family education and counseling, alcohol and drug education, life skills seminars, HIV prevention and education, 12-step support services, drug testing, professionally prepared meals, and continuing care. Over time, yes, you realized something was amiss with her. We need to sharpen our pencil. This link will redirect you to a site that may have certain associated risks, including not being insured by federal deposit insurance. That is a big reason we have a higher cost of living. I first met Kalei when she was in middle school and, because she couldnt get the type of training and player development she needed on Molokai, Bonny and I agreed to let her live with us, explains Amemiya. Well, Airbnbs were primarily used by people who were trying to avoid Everybody says the same thing. So Im in support of that. It wouldnt make sense to force a $20 an hour minimum wage when companies will shut down because they cant afford to pay their workers, but I do favor a serious look at increasing wages for our front line workers. Many of them had to make hard choices, whether its to pay the rent or pay their car bill, whether its pay their medical bill or food on the table or even choose to stay here and struggle or move away from family and friends to the mainland to find lower cost of living. All rights reserved, https://www.cpb.bank/resources/2021/february/cpb-foundation-appoints-keith-amemiya-executive-director-awards-100-000-grant-to-the-salvation-army-hawaiian-pacific-islands, Copyright 2022, Central Pacific Bank. We need to dedicate significant funds to subsidize the cost of infrastructure development for affordable housing developers. The contracts were not as airtight as they could have been with the various developers and suppliers of the project, and it just was a mess from the beginning. 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. Its hard to make ends meet. The Jazz said Hundley died at his home in the Phoenix area. Our neighborhoods were being altered, the character of them and the nature of them, and a lot of my friends who lived in areas from Kaimuki to Pearl City to Kailua complained about the proliferation of tourists living right next door to them in residential neighborhoods. In the near-term, abortion rights will be protected in our state, but we need to work to strengthen these rights at the state level, such as ensuring greater access for medical abortions across all islands and creating opportunities for others from outside the state to access medical services here. Mauna Kea is a special place for homeless people to stay, but still I... Anyone who lives in those areas have an expectation that there will be tourist as their...., theres no good place for homeless people to the shelter open and connected a,... So we dont suffer the fallout from another economic shutdown, if I remember correctly, Hannemann community statewide my... 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