A Democratic primary challenger who identifies as being “old school” is facing incumbent Rep. Richard Onishi for the state House seat he has held since 2012 — District 3, stretching 56 miles from Hilo to Kau.
Ainoa Naniole, a 36-year-old lawyer, is stepping into the political arena for the first time but says politics has always been in his sights.
“I’ve always wanted to run,” said Naniole. “I was always really fascinated about it.”
The Hilo native describes himself as “old school” — socially liberal but fiscally moderate.
Naniole said he entered the race thinking Onishi had decided to leave the seat to run for the state Senate, since Onishi had applied in February for the seat left vacant by the death of the late Sen. Gil Kahele.
Onishi, also a Hilo native, said while he contemplated the idea, “I felt like I had a stronger presence in the House than in the Senate.”
Naniole’s extensive behind-the-scenes political experience includes working as legislative aide to former state Sen. Russell Kokubun and as an aide to former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in Washington.
“The way I was mentored by Russell and Colleen: Listen more and talk less,” he says. “That’s the way to formulate policy. It encourages people to come to the table and find good solutions.”
He also served as legislative aide to three other state lawmakers.
“I bring a fresh perspective,” he said. “I’m committed to working hard and reflect the values of the community.”
But on the matter of agriculture, which both consider a priority and a way to keep and create jobs in the district, his views are not far from Onishi’s.
Naniole straddles the divide between the anti-GMO movement and those who support the use of genetically modified organisms. Regulating the use of GMOs and pesticides has emerged as a top political issue on Hawaii island.
“I’m pro-farmer,” he said, adding that he will listen and supports providing them with the tools they need to farm. “Papaya farmers have been able to make both work,” he said. “One farmer does both GMO and non-GMO, organic.”
Onishi served as vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
“The issues of the anti-GMO movement, the anti-pesticide movement, for many of us in the Legislature is not based on scientific fact,” Onishi said. “Those movements are trying to penalize businesses in the agriculture industry by putting on these restrictions.
“The Big Island passed an ordinance against GMO,” he said. “It was supposed to be a complete ban. And when they found out all the papaya growers — 95 percent — raise GMO Rainbow papaya and it would put them all out of business, they said, ‘OK, we’ll allow them to grow GMO crops.’”
He said anthuriums and other crops are genetically modified to allow for less pesticide use.
Onishi said one of the last two dairy farms on Hawaii island provides 95 percent of the island’s fresh milk, raising GMO corn to feed their cows rather than import mainland feed.
“On the mainland they do the same thing and ship milk to Hawaii,” he said. “We’re not going to ban the shipment of milk. … Those are examples of where these (anti-GMO) efforts are not looking at us as a state and our survival, our businesses and survival, on jobs. These outside organizations are organizing people to run against us.”
Naniole said agricultural security is important, but he has a literal take on it, speaking about vandals who steal, destroy crops, trespass and commit criminal property damage. He would like to see an agency such as the Department of Agriculture dedicate resources to respond to farmers’ calls for help.
Naniole said he’s willing to work with Monsanto, Syngenta and other similar companies “to grow food that stays here.”
He also likes the idea of creating an ag park on existing agricultural lands, providing leases to those wanting to farm.
On the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project proposed for atop Mauna Kea, Naniole said he is open to it if more job opportunities for locals would be made available, and not just construction jobs. While he views Mauna Kea as sacred, where TMT would sit on the mountain “is not so offensive,” and it would be “the best telescope in the world” and promote knowledge, he said.
Onishi supports the project because “TMT has tried to work with Big Island communities,” paid substantial impact fees, made contributions to educational programs, including for Native Hawaiian children, and will “provide opportunities for our kids to have technological jobs that will be required for the project,” he said.
An advisory group of Native Hawaiians looked at issues of the mountain, its protection and where the telescope could be situated, and had done extensive vetting to address those concerns, he said.
The winner of the primary will face Green Party candidate Kealoha Pisciotta and Libertarian Gregory Arianoff.
