Name on ballot:

Joseph Kaahema Simpliciano Jr

Running for:

State House – District 44

Political party:

Aloha Aina Party

Campaign website:

www.votejoseph2020.com

Current occupation:

DLNR DOBOR Harbormaster

Age:

45

Previous job history:

5 x Combat Infantryman and military contractor.

Previous elected office, if any:

None

Please describe your qualifications to represent the people of Hawaii.

General Omar Bradley Award winner for leadership, common sense approach to issues, Hard worker, Kanaka values and genuine love for the people!

What will be your top priority if elected?

Sustainability and Conservation (food, energy, resources and culture).

As Hawaii faces the COVID-19 pandemic, what more can be done to protect residents’ health?

Slow down the influx of people arriving into Hawaii. Check on and maintain a high level of readiness from the Department of Health, FEMA and to all the hospitals and non-profits who are benefitting from State and Federal Grants, let’s ensure that they are able to respond and remain compliant with testing, has the means to provide adequate care and have the proper equipment to do their jobs and save lives. Let’s not forget to protect our nurses, doctors, and first responders by making sure they are well equipped to respond safely.

What more can be done to help residents who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Lower the cost of living, Lower the rates at the public utility commission due to the pandemic, hold people accountable for the unemployment fiasco, use public television and the internet to help educate our keikis at home.

Should public worker furloughs, pay cuts or downsizing be used to help the state deal with lower tax revenues and higher expenses during the pandemic? Why or why not?

Pay cuts should come from the people in office and heads of departments never the workers. For example, Our leaders in office truly works only four months out of the year and receives a salary rate of $62,000.00 a year while our people have to work two to three jobs just to make ends meet.

Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy has suffered greatly due to the pandemic. If elected, what would you propose to support and diversify the state’s economy?

The answer has always been in Hawaii. Tourism did not originate from Hawaii. There are many ways to boost our economy just by looking at what we already have, make adjustments to and then break away from what does not work. If we are dependent on tourism then the State needs to recognize what benefits the Hawaii Tourism Industry versus what truly benefits the State and the people.

Do you support reforms to policing in Hawaii? If yes, please explain what reforms you support.

Reform comes from the top and then trickles down to the bottom. We need to reform our government and it’s leadership in order to truly align the police.

Do you support or oppose the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the Big Island and why?

Oppose any and all construction on every mauna in Hawaii. #alllandissacredland

Is there anything more that you would like voters to know about you?

Life long resident of Waianae, Pro active community member, Waianae High School graduate, 5 x Combat veteran, Harbormaster, married, father to four keiki’s and descendant of Keku’iapoiwa II, mother to King Kamehameha. It’s time to put governance back into the State of Hawaii and let the people’s voices be heard!