The two Democrats who want to win over the 27,420 registered voters in Hawaii County’s reapportioned Senate District 1 agree that the economy and job creation are priorities for the island’s major city, Hilo.
The new District 1 places most of Hilo under one senator.
Incumbent Sen. Gilbert Kahele, appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Jan. 11, 2011, will face his first test at the polls Aug. 11 against Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda, who by law cannot run for a fifth term.
Kahele was named to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Russell Kokubun when he was appointed director of the Department of Agriculture. Kahele in 2010 was East Hawaii campaign coordinator for Abercrombie.
The reapportionment plan was approved this year, redrawing district boundaries to reflect changes in the population recorded in the most recent U.S. census. Hawaii County’s 24.5 percent population growth earned it additional representation in the state Legislature, adding a fourth Senate seat. The reapportionment plan also designated 12 Senate seats, including Kahele’s, to be for two years rather than four.
With no Republican opposition, the winner of the Aug. 11 Democratic primary will be seated as senator.
Both Kahele and Ikeda are Hawaii island products. Kahele was born in Hilo and Ikeda is from Milolii. Both are 70 years old.
Ikeda graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1959 and California State University in Los Angeles in 1965.
Kahele graduated from Hilo High School in 1960. He earned an associate’s degree from Laney College in Oakland, Calif.
Both are veterans.
Ikeda enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade in 1961 and later transferred to the California Army National Guard while he worked as an auditor for the state of California.
Kahele served in the Marine Corps from 1960 to 1964 and remembers being on alert during the Cuban missile crisis while stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.
When Ikeda returned to Hawaii, he worked for his father’s company, S. Ikeda, and eventually served as its president. He has been the county’s clerk and member of the Hawaii Council since 2004.
After his discharge from the Marine Corps, Kahele worked for 10 years in the public works department of the Navy’s communications facility in Wahiawa. He transferred to the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area, where he worked until he retired in 2004.
In his first term as a freshman senator, Kahele has served as vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and said he sees his role as "a facilitator," bringing together East Hawaii community leaders with county, legislative, state and federal officials "to bring things to fruition" on the island.
Kahele points to getting money in the state pipeline to finish a $14 million Hilo Airport cargo facility, a $16.9 million gym and emergency shelter in Kau and student housing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
"Money had been set aside for all these projects, but work needed to be done to make sure they came to fruition," Kahele said. "A lot of construction is good for the community since the economy is down."
Kahele said the 43,300-square-foot Kau gym will be built with filtration systems and can serve as a shelter when vog increases.
Both Kahele and Ikeda said supporting growth of UH-Hilo will stimulate the island’s economy and provide more jobs.
Ikeda said he would like to see the campus establish a dental school.
Kahele would like to see an aviation school, "which would help our local kids become pilots."
Ikeda noted that more jobs could be created if the state and county governments offered income tax, sales tax and property tax breaks.
That happened when he was in California, Ikeda added.
"The state of California fostered initiative and innovative ideas by encouraging businesses to relocate in areas like Silicon Valley."
Kahele has been endorsed by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Laborers International Local 368, International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers Local 1357 and 1186, International Association of Iron Workers, Sierra Club, Hawaii Association of Realtors, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, United Public Workers, Hawaii State Teachers Association and Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council.
Ikeda has received endorsements from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Hawaii Government Employees Association and the Carpenters Union.
Kahele said for the campaign finance reporting period that ended in June, he had a surplus of $23,593. Ikeda said he had a deficit of $9,000, most in personal loans for his campaign.
