Past Accomplishments

Prior to taking office as Mayor in 2005, Mufi Hannemann had already established a record of accomplishments demonstrating his ability as a strategic leader who takes an active role in finding solutions.  He has tackled wide-ranging issues with great success, including achievements in economic development, fiscal accountability, city services and public safety, transportation, education and the environment.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • Enterprise Zones: Initiated the establishment of the City's first enterprise zones, located throughout the City and County of Honolulu. The areas that first received approval were: 1) The North Shore Enterprise Zone of Haleiwa and Waialua; 2) the Central Oahu Enterprise Zone of Wahiawa and the Mililani Technology Park; 3) the Ewa Enterprise Zone of Barbers Point Naval Air Station, Kapolei Business Park, Campbell Industrial Park and Barber's Point Deep Draft Harbor, and 4) the Central Oahu/Primary Urban Center Enterprise Zone of Waipahu, Pearl City, Waipio and Waiawa.  Led Council approval of the expansion of the North Shore enterprise zone to include Pupukea, as well as efforts to expand the Central Oahu Zone to include Kapolei, Waipahu Industrial areas, and certain agricultural lands. The enterprise zone program provides tax incentives for businesses located in the zones as a means of encouraging business growth and job creation.
  • Arts Enterprise Zone: Sponsored a measure establishing an arts enterprise zone, in which the City would provide low-cost access to unused City facilities; establish an open, competitive system for the issuance of grants and other resources; coordinate production and marketing support; and encourage the arts by other means available to the City. The Arts at Marks Garage is the result of this legislation.
  • Led efforts to create an Office of Economic Development to market City services and facilities, enhance tourism and sports marketing for the island, pursue joint initiatives with the Hawaii Business, Roundtable, the Oahu Economic Development Board (now renamed Enterprise Honolulu), and the Chamber of Commerce.
  • Championed a project by the Oahu Economic Development Board (now renamed Enterprise Honolulu) to devise a strategy to invigorate the economy by convening the first-ever economic forum attended by hundreds of participants at the Blaisdell Center, featuring noted author Dr. Spenser Johnson.
  • Second City: Vigorously supported revisions to the Ewa Development Plan, which includes confining urbanization to the area makai of the freeway ... preserving agricultural lands and calling on major land owners to offer long-term leases to farmers ... constructing bikeways, roads, and networks to accommodate the flow of people, with provisions for a mass transit system sometime in the future ... endorsing the establishment of the UH's West Oahu campus...approving the state's request to reclassify land for housing and commercial/retail development ... initiating a community-based planning effort to identify sites for a new stadium ... and encouraging the preservation of view planes and corridors.
  • Chaired the Pearl City Task Force in a community-based planning process to determine the future use of Pearl City Junction and the development of the Manana land, properties which the City had invested $109 million and needed to recoup. This effort resulted in the construction of the Manana Spine Road, City corporation yards, a City bus maintenance facility, recreational center and parks, and included traffic mitigation measures. As chair, secured $300,000 in private funds for local parks from the purchaser of the Pearl City Junction land.
  • Wahiawa Zoning: Resolved dispute between the mayor and the Council over zoning changes at Waiawa; settlement will enable development to proceed, with the ultimate result being construction jobs, new business opportunities, housing, and other benefits sorely needed to stimulate Hawaii's economy.
  • Initiated additional funding while on the Council to promote the film industry on Oahu.
  • Provided leadership for the passage of the Waipahu Town Task Force's plan for the revitalization of the historic sugar mill town, which includes the development of the Filipino Community Center, an expanded Hans L'Orange Park, and economic growth in the area through a combination of light industrial, commercial and community facilities that preserve the lifestyle and plantation character of the community.
  • As the area councilmember and Planning Committee Chair, played a leadership role in ensuring the private landowner, the Waipahu community, and the City were working cooperatively to facilitate the development of the Filipino Community Center.
  • Introduced and encouraged the Council to adopt a resolution reaffirming the commitment to move governmental functions to Kapolei.


Visitor Industry

  • Pro Bowl: Led negotiations on two occasions on behalf of the State to keep the NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The game brings about 20,000 visitors to the island and generates millions of dollars in revenues in Hawaii. The game also showcases the beauty of the islands to a nationwide audience. Chaired the Hawaii Pro Bowl Host Committee to work closely with the NFL to ensure the event's success. Responsible for a $100,000 a year commitment from NFL Charities for deserving local non-profits.
  • Arranged for major exposure for Hawaii during several National Football League halftime shows. Hawaii's appearances took place during the American Bowl Game at the Tokyo Dome and at Candlestick Park during a game between the 49ers and the San Diego Chargers.
  • Waikiki Special Design District: As Planning Committee chair, authored the measure that makes Waikiki a top development priority in the Primary Urban Center and led efforts on the Council in 1996 to make changes to the Waikiki Special District zoning regulations that provided incentives to landowners to redevelop and improve their properties. This ordinance laid the foundation for major renewal of Waikiki.
  • Spearheaded a series of Visitor Crime Solutions Conferences sponsored by the City and state governments and Hawaii Visitor Industry Security Association, to hear how other popular tourist destinations fight crimes against visitors and propose solutions to Hawaii's problems. The Hawaii group has since pushed for legislation to combat prostitution, support the use of video surveillance, increase prison space, and introduce the concept of a business improvement district for Waikiki
  • Represented Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu at the first-ever White House Conference on Travel and Tourism to assist President Clinton's administration develop a strategic plan for the travel and tourism industry.
  • Championed efforts to bring about more attention and funding for the Honolulu Zoo.
  • Paved the way for the Hawaii Winter Baseball franchise to utilize the City's Hans L'Orange Park to host professional baseball games for the West Oahu CaneFires.
  • Worked to secure a loan guarantee for Hawaiian Airlines for up to $12 million to assist financially troubled Hawaiian Airlines. The loan guarantee was developed after an assessment of the airline's financial statements and strategic plan. Closure of Hawaiian Airlines could have resulted in losses of as many as 3,500 jobs, $94 million in household income, $18 million in state tax revenues, and $2.6 million in airport revenue. The loan was never drawn upon, but allowed the company to work itself out of its financial straits.
  • Issued a call for a Tourism Congress that generated recommendations in six areas: the tourism operating environment, Hawaiian culture, the visitor experience, marketing and education, air service, and product development and diversification. Calls for action by the federal, state and county governments, visitor industry, and general business community and the community-at-large were adopted. Proposed that another Congress be held in 1994 and every two years thereafter to coincide with the biennium budget. 
  • Helped coordinate the 42nd Annual Pacific Asia Travel Association conference in Honolulu attended by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and provided funding to the PATA Chapters World Congress, which met on Kauai one week before the full conference.
  • Aloha on Tour: Conceived this promotional campaign, involving the public and private sectors, integrating different aspects of Hawaii - tourism, culture, food and products, sports, film and television production, business investment and attraction, and other island industries - into one high-visibility vehicle targeted at major markets. Aloha on Tour went to Seattle, Hong Kong and Taipei, Canada, Osaka, Europe, Asia (Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou), and California. The missions produced several immediate tangible results: two Daiei Conventions bringing 8,000 participants and a DER Travel Academy, together generated more than $15 million in tourism spending; more than $1 million in product sales; nearly $1.8 million in free advertising and publicity for Hawaii. The State's investment was roughly $900,000.
  • Led Hawaii's participation in the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, one of the nation's largest ethnic and traditional arts events, attracting a crowd of 200,000. The festival was an occasion to showcase Hawaii's music, art, culture and dance, and as an added attraction, food and products of Hawaii were sold in the Folklife Museum gallery and at a special kiosk. Planned a special pre-opening tourism promotional event for travel agents and wholesalers in the area because Seattle is one of the key target areas.
  • Successfully lobbied the Legislature for the single largest increase for State support for tourism in an effort to combat the industry slump resulting from Hurricane Iniki. At the same time, requested and received the cooperation of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau in evaluating its existing programs and streamlining its operations, making available $1.2 million for marketing and advertising efforts.
  • Urged more cooperative campaigns to stretch marketing dollars by pooling the resources of the public and private sectors, instead of running campaigns independently. This was successfully accomplished with the "Focus on Hawaii" campaign that received $950,000 in State support and $2 million from the private sector, including 11 major tour companies and wholesalers, 12 hotels, and two car rental companies. The Hana Hou Campaign was conceived as a special promotion to target consumers and travel agents on the West Coast through an aggressive radio, print and direct mail campaign. The State earmarked $510,000 and the visitor industry raised $800,000 in cash and inventory.
  • Airlift Capacity: Worked with sister state agencies and the private sector to secure the historic Lufthansa Airbus non-stop flight from Frankfurt. As Dept of Business, Economic Development and Tourism director, presided over direct flights from Taiwan by China Airlines, Korea by Asiana Airlines, and from Sendai Airport by Japan Airlines. Also arranged meetings with Cathay Pacific, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic to discuss the merits of serving Hawaii.
  • Kauai/Hurricane Iniki: Spearheaded the successful emergency evacuation and relocation of 8,000 stranded tourists from hurricane devastated Kauai. "Operation Iniki Aloha" airlifted tourists from Kauai, arranged stays at other hotels in other parts of the state, provided relief and travel assistance, including meals, medical attention, rest facilities, and an emergency message center all within 72 hours. Arranged for travel-assistance to new destinations, with airlines and hotels offering significant discounts.
  • Arranged for NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, during a pre-season Lakers' training session, to tape a commercial urging people to visit beautiful Hawaii and help the islands recover from Iniki by vacationing here. Ad aired on ESPN.
  • USS Missouri: Introduced a Council resolution supporting the homeporting of the "Mighty Mo" at Pearl Harbor; took similar action as chairman of the Governor's Home Porting Task Force.
  • Supported increased funding for the City's tourism promotion efforts while on the Council and backed Convention Center banner exemption.
  • Initiated discussions with the State Department of Transportation to house the memorabilia of Japanese professional baseball Hall of Famer Wally Yonamine at the Honolulu International Airport.


Small Business

  • Helped Harbor Center Businesses in Pearl City resolve City zoning problems involving retail operations in an area zoned for industrial purposes.
  • Hurricane Iniki: Secured federal funding to develop an economic recovery strategy for Kauai and to promote travel to the other islands internationally, and later to Kauai when it was ready to receive visitors. Scheduled and organized a series of workshops to help Kauai business people hurt by Iniki. Topics ranged from tax and insurance, marketing opportunities, financing sources, and business survival tips. Provided loans to individuals and businesses through the Disaster Loan Program. Worked with Kauai County and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and identified projects to assist with economic recovery, utilizing funds secure by Senator Daniel Inouye. The projects inclujded a disinfestation facility, agricultural parks, a recycling center, and feasibility studies for a Kauai Products Center, taro mill, and Kauai High Technology Communications Center.
  • Launched a public/private venture to support local business by making loans more affordable and accessible. $3,000,000 was provided to the program by local banks.
  • Matched a Big Island restaurant, Café Grinders, with a Japan investor through the Investment Attraction Program.
  • Community Based Economic Development Grants and Loans: Issued the first loans and grants from this program that encourages ethnic, cultural, and geographically-based community groups to initiate business enterprises. The CBDG Program attracted $5 in matching funds for every State dollar allocated to its program. Among the awardees of loans and grants are:
    • Ka'ili'ula Ohana Corporation to create a Ka'u Community Landcare Association.
    • Hina-malailina to develop a village marketplace in Hana.
    • Kalihi-Palama Immigrant Center to help Laotian artists and weavers.
    • Waianae Coast Community Alternative Development Corporation to expand its
      backyard aquaculture programs.
    • Hui Ulu Mea Ai, a Waiahole farmers' group, to convert the Poi Factory to an
      incubator for food processing and related business.
    • Parents and Children Together to establish a Friendly Store at Kuhio Park
      Terrace that is tenant-owned and operated.
    • Kokua Country Foods to relocate and expand its cooperative retail store.
    • Ke Kua'aina Hanauna Hou, a Molokai fishing and gathering cooperative, to
      develop a marketing plan and distribution system for limu and other
      commodities.
    • Campaign Recycle Maui to purchase a truck, front-end loader, and provide
      working capital.
    • Maui Malama Pono, Inc. to revitalize taro lands in West Maui and Molokai.
    • Na'alehu Main Street, Inc. to develop a business plan and financing strategy.
  • Co-sponsored workshops to assist people interested in microenterprise development programs and federal sources of support.
  • Co-sponsored a seminar to help businesses learn how to sell to military exchanges, commissaries, and clubs. Provided another opportunity for businesses to learn about government contracting opportunities since the State and counties spend over $1 billion a year on goods and services.


International

  • Sister Cities: Authored and backed Sister-City relationships between Honolulu and Zhongshan, China; Baugio, the Philippines; and Hue, Vietnam.
  • Organized and led the first commercial mission to Vietnam, having earlier helped to organize the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. A cooperative agreement was signed on the trip with a local technology firm to introduce bar-coding systems to Vietnam.
  • Signed a cooperation agreement between the State of Hawaii and the Korea-US Economic Council (KUSEC) to expand economic relationships between the State and the Republic of Korea. Ambassador Young-Kyo Yoon signed the agreement on behalf of KUSEC.
  • Organized the Hawaii Sister State Summit as a means and opportunity for Hawaii to broaden its historical ties into mutually beneficial relationships. Provided the occasion to sign a seventh sister-state agreement with Hainan Province of the People's Republic of China. Hawaii showcased its tourism and resort development expertise at the summit in the hopes that their services could be exported to other nations. Attending the conference were the governors of Fukuoka, Japan; the Azores, Portugual; Cheju, Korea; Guangdong and Hainan, China; and Ilocos Sur, Philippines, together with observers from Bali, Indonesia, Pulau Penang of Malaysia, and Phuket, Thailand.
  • Coordinated the state's responses to proposed provisions of two trade pacts: the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), both of which affected the local agricultural industry adversely.
  • Through the International Business Center of Hawaii, together with Factor One Funding Resources, launched an export credit insurance program to help local firms.
  • Coordinated Hawaii's participation in the '93 Great American Food Show Osaka. The Kansai region around Osaka had the world's seventh largest economy and the show represented an opportunity to showcase Hawaii food products by manufacturers, processors, and sellers.
  • Planned and led mission to Asia to promote Hawaii resort planning and design expertise in seminars slated for Tokyo, Seoul, and Guangzhou. Participated at the Ninth Japanese Congress of International Travel and Trade Show in Tokyo, met with Korean travl trade associations and air carriers. Met with executives of the Japan Association of Commercial TV producers and journalists to promote Hawaii as a site for commercials, TV shows, and other projects. Showcase Hawaii products to importers and consumers.
  • Held "Grow with Hawaii Business" seminars in Taipei and Hong Kong to introduce investors in those cities to business opportunities in Hawaii. The events were sponsored with the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii to also introduce Hawaii business owners seeking capital to potential investors.
  • Organized the tourism/business mission to Europe, where there were opportunities for tourism expansion initiatives in Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It was a major cooperative marketing effort with United Airlines to promote its Hawaii Roadshow in Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich, Germany, and in Zurich, Switzerland. United also co-sponsored a travel industry reception in London.
  • Led a delegation to Subic Bay, Manila, Cebu and surrounding areas with the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in order to expand business with Hawaii. Also hosted the first significant international Philippine Trade Mission to Hawaii. The delegation from the Philippines explored investment and trade opportunities.
  • Through the Hawaii Foreign Trade Zone No. 9, hosted the 23rd annual meeting of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones to focus on Hawaii's role in the Pacific trade arena.
  • Convened the first-ever Japan-Hawaii Resort Development Workshop in September 1991, which were held on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. The week-long workshop included presentations by Hawaii consultants on resort planning and development, in Hawaii, while the Japanese representatives discussed resort potential in their countries.
  • Signed a research agreement with Kochi Prefecture of Japan and Hordaland Prefecture of Norway for a cooperative project on deep ocean water. The jurisdictions are seeking to find applications for nutrient rich sea water.
  • Led the U.S. delegation to the South Pacific Commission for President Bill Clinton for its annual meetings in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Saipan.
  • Utlized funds by a special U.S. Tour and Travel Administration disaster assistance grant to partially fund a mission to Vancouver to attract a greater share of the Canadian travel market for Hawaii, and particularly for Kauai. In addition to seminars for Canadian travel agents, promoted Kauai crafts, products and fashions at Vancouver's downtown Pacific Centre Mall.


Sports

  • Support provided to a number of on-going major events: the Aloha Bowl, Hula Bowl, Honolulu Marathon, Great Aloha Run, PGA Grand Slam of Golf and Senior PGA Tour Kaanapali Classic, World Cup Youth Soccer Tournament, AYSO World Games and Royal Master Rugby Tournament.
  • Recruited and supported several events: Tour 'O Hawaii featuring bicyclists from Europe, Canada, and Hawaii; World Grand Prix Volleyball; Firefighters Games; Triple Crown of Surfing, among others.
  • Provided additional support to enable the XCEL Pro Surfing meet to become an Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series Two Star event. New funding gave the event more credibility and enabled it to attract more international attention.
  • Provided funding for Pete Newell's Big Man Camp, a premier clinic for professional basketball players, including Shaquille O'Neal.


Film

  • Opened the State's second sound stage of the new Hawaii Film Studio.
  • Organized the first familiarization tour for Hollywood film executives to learn about locations and the film studio. Familiarization tours are now regular occurrences and there have been more productions in Hawaii. In 1994, record revenues, to that point, were achieved.
  • Sponsored the first seminar in Japan with the Hawaii International Film Association to promote film and television production in Hawaii and met with the general secretary and board members of the Japan Association of Commercial Producers.
  • Met with the U.S. Embassy officials in Japan to streamline the system to allow speedy approvals of visas. Subsequently, a new procedure was adopted.
  • Collaborted with the Hawaii International Film Festival in planning festival events that relate to economic development.
  • Notable productions filmed during tenure as Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, were: Waterworld, television series Byrds of Paradise and One West Waikiki, and local film, Papakolea.


Agriculture/Seafood Products

  • Spearheaded initiative at the City to establish an agricultural promotion program for rural areas, particularly for farmers in enterprise zones. $500,000 in federal funds was identified to create a Rural Economic/Agricultural Development Promotion Program.
  • At the City, worked on establishing Enterprise Zones on Oahu and revising the Ewa Development Plan, both initiatives help the agricultural community. (See above).
  • Assisted a watercress farm in Aiea negotiate an extension of its lease when the owner of the property entertained other options for its land.
  • Participated in the Boston International Seafood Show with Chef Sam Choy, who demonstrated the use of Hawaii opah, onaga, opakapaka, and ahi.
  • Hilo Coast/Hamakua: Led the State's economic development efforts for the Hamakua region following the closure of the Hamakua Sugar Company and the Hilo Coast Processing Company. Applied to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for a strategic planning grant. A $75,000 grant was approved, matched by $25,000 in in-kind State support. Requested a million dollar appropriation for an economic stimulation package from the Legislature, which was approved. Worked with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to designate the monies for specific projects and used other programs in the department to assist the area, such as extending the Foreign Trade Zone status to Hilo Airport, identifying an investor through its Hawaii Investment Attraction Program to enable Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Plantations, with a factory in Honokaa, to receive $250,000 from a foreign partner.
  • Unveiled the Great Hawaiian Food Festivals as a tourism and product promotion uniting various regional food festivals under a single umbrella. Created the concept to showcase cultural events and activities to enrich the visitor experience, promote Hawaii products, generate more community-based events, establish festivals throughout the year, and foster interaction between residents and visitors to build community support for and involvement with the visitor industry. Supported the individual festivals by holding seminars for the organizers on fund-raising and publicity, asking the counties and Hawaii Visitor Bureau chapters to promote and support the events, and launched a publicity campaign targeted at the local, national, and international media. The Great Hawaiian Food Festivals reached an estimated 10,000-plus travel agents through a variety of means, including promotional materials and cooperative campaigns. It generated nearly 900,000 in publicity, as measured by ad equivalents, through coverage on NBC's "Today" show, H30, and "Cookin' USA"; storied in Tennessean, Essence, and Sunset magazines; articles in city magazines on the West Coast, and other news coverage.
  • Festivals included in the Great Hawaiian Food Festival: Hilo Macadamia Nut Festival, Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Aloha Taro Festival, Waimea Cabbage Festival, Trya Papaya Festival, Koloa Plantation Days, Kauai Taro Festival, Lanai Pineapple Festival, Maui Onion Festival, East Maui Taro Festival, Great Molokai Stew Cook-off, and the Pacific Island Taro Festival.
  • Greatly expanded the format and organized the annual Hawaii Seafood Festival to include it in the Great Hawaiian Foods Festivals. The month-long series of events took place throughout the state to promote and market Hawaii's seafood industry.
  • Worked with the State Department of Agriculture to sponsor and lead Hawaii's delegation to the ANUGA food show in Cologne and the SIAL show in Paris. These prestigious tradeshows featured Hawaii seafood, products and agricultural commodities to various buyers and distributors.
  • Kauai: Authorized $100,000 for the development of a papaya treatment system on Kauai. The unit was temporarily used in Moloa'a and allowed Kauai papaya farmers to accelerate their exports and establish markets and distribution networks while the permanent facility is completed.


Military

  • Founded the Council's first-ever Military Affairs Advisory Task Force in an effort to bridge communications between the armed services and the county on issues of economic and social impact to both bodies.
  • Worked on the Council to demonstrate support for the homeporting of the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor.
  • Chaired the Defense Industry Task Force to identify defense-related developments, such as base closures, and implement strategies to mitigate economic losses, and served on the Barbers Point Naval Air Station Re-Use Committee to oversee future uses of the base.
  • Provided financial support for the Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Council (MAC) to assist its efforts to support and preserve the military presence in Hawaii and participated in MAC missions to Washington, D.C.


FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

  • As the Council Chair, formed the Employee Ad Hoc Committee on the Budget so that City employees for the first-time could provide input and solutions to the City's budget. Councilmembers served as facilitators to the various City departments.
  • Established a policy for fundraising activities to be held on the City's civic grounds.
  • Opposed the indiscriminate use of personal services contracts as a substitute for budgeted, Council-approved, civil service positions, and supported public reporting of such contracts.
  • Succeeded in authorizing and funding a management audit of Ewa Villages to review the financial status of the Ewa Villages project to better ensure accountability and management oversight.
  • While supporting the importance of community-based planning, questioned the carte blanche approval of $2 million a year for 19 visioning teams that has since resulted in such expensive projects as community signs and extravagant median signs. Believed the visioning process would also diminish the role of the neigborhood board system.
  • Initiated City policies governing the granting for fare-free bus services for special events.
  • Pushed for accountability in the status of money owed the City for the use of non-residential space leased or owned by the City.
  • Opposed bill to create a special fund for civil forfeiture proceeds. The bill would give control of the forfeiture monies to the Director of Finance, instead of allowing the Honolulu Police Department and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to use the funds specifically for purposes of law enforcement.
  • Cut the City Council's budget for FY'00 by 5 percent while Council Chair.
  • Introduced resolution to seek low or no rent office space for Honolulu Police Department operations utilizing storefront police stations.
  • As Council Chair, opposed imposition of a garbage collection fee and the revenue neutral form of property taxes by the City Administration. Also called for a more equitable assessment of property taxes for condominiums.
  • Introduced bill that authorizes the Council to appropriate money into the City's Special Reserve Fund and subsequently the Council deposited $5 million in General Funds to the reserve.
  • Introduced resolution that urged the Honolulu Police Department to pursue funding available to local governments under the 1995 Federal Crime Bill.


BASIC SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

  • Brought residents a Satellite City Hall, conveniently located at Pearlridge, secured a five year lease at no cost to the city, additional staffing and equipment for the office.
  • Secured polling place for absentee voters at the Pearlridge Satellite City Hall.
  • Had the City Council convene its first-ever regular meeting in Windward Oahu at the Pali Golfcourse Clubhouse.
  • Objected to aspects of Mayor Harris' reorganization initiative, including placing the Fire Department under the oversight of a larger department, dismantling of the Board of Water Supply, and limiting loss of jobs to one temporary position instead of 180 projected by the Administration.
  • Introduced a Council resolution in July, 2000 calling for an audit of the Ericsson radio system.
  • Pushed for the funding to link older neighborhoods of Pearl City and Waimalu to the City's sewage system and secured approval of other wastewater related CIP projects for Leeward Oahu.
  • Secured Council funding for community policing programs in 1999.
  • Backed increase in funding for 160 new police officers island-wide, with several slated for assignment at the Pearl City station and sought 12 additional officers for Leeward Oahu.
  • Spearheaded Council efforts to develop a video surveillance program to deter crime.
  • Ended the impasse with the private developer and the City over the permitting approval for the Laie Treatment Facility.
  • Citizen Patrols: Organized or joined with the Honolulu Police Department and businesses to train and equip several patrols with t-shirts and cellular phones in Council District 8.
  • Aided Waiau Neighborhood Security Watch Committee in locking district park's parking lot to deter gang activity.
  • Based on work with the Pearl City Task Force, located a bus maintenance facility, not to exceed 250-bus.
  • Secured improvements to the Pearl City Recreation Center swimming pool and replacement of the training pool.
  • Secured funding and accelerated construction of a new Waipahu Gym.
  • Allocated $2.2 million for a park and youth facility at Manana.
  • Organized Community Traffic Awareness Partnerships with the Honolulu Police Department to promote traffic safety.
  • Led litter pick-up and graffiti paint out days with the Lions, Leos and Aiea-Pearl City Business Association, and businesses in Waipahu.


TRANSPORTATION

  • Led efforts to extend express bus services from Pearlridge to downtown Honolulu and on to the University of Hawaii Manoa campus.
  • Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization: Chaired the joint state-county transportation planning arm.
  • Worked with the City's Department of Transportation Services to make traffic safety improvements to Auhuhu Street, site of a tragic traffic facility.
  • Chaired the Pearl City Task Force that led to the construction of the Manana Spine Road which has facilitated traffic flow from Moanalua Road and Waimano Home Road to the Manana property.
  • Opposed the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) as an ineffective wasteful solution to Oahu's traffic problems.
  • Pushed for improvements on Moanalua Road to include a dedicated right turn lane from Moanalua Road on to Kaahumanu Street in the mauka-bound direction and dedicated right turn lane from Moanalua Road on to Kaahele Street in the mauka bound direction.
  • Worked with affected residents to have community approved traffic calming measures instituted along Kuahaka Street and near Manana Elementary School.
  • Responsible for initiating funding for traffic signals at four key intersections in Aiea, along Ulune Street, Aiea Heights Drive and Moanalua Road. Also, had traffic signals placed in Pearl City on Komo Mai Drive.
  • Organized and coordinated the construction of eight bus shelters on Kamehameha Highway and Farrington Highway in cooperation with Hawaiian Electric, which donated $30,000, and the Aiea, Leeward, Pearl City, and Pearl Harbor Lions.


EDUCATION

  • Awarded over 175 scholarships to public high school seniors to pursue their higher education goals, either personally or through a non-profit organization he established.
  • Scholarships valued at $95,000.
  • Participated in Read-to-Me programs throughout the state for 25 years.
  • Sponsored and presented over 200 Harvard Book prizes to outstanding high school juniors, in recognition of stellar academic achievement and character.
  • Founded in 1999 a group-mentoring program for ninth-graders that operated first at Waianae and now at Farrington high schools.
  • Sponsors and organizes the annual Mufi Hannemann Basketball Jamboree, Hawaii's only post-season showcase of women's roundball featuring prep all-stars, former collegiate athletes, and keiki teams. Since the Jamboree's founding in 1994, more than 1,000 women and girls have participated in the competition.
  • Coached junior varsity and varsity basketball at Iolani and Maryknoll high schools and sponsored numerous basketball clinics.
  • Established professional development grants for public school teachers and is a frequent speaker at professional development seminars, education conferences, and commencement exercises.
  • Taught history at Iolani School and has been a guest lecturer at the University of
  • Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University, Brigham Young University
  • Hawaii, community colleges, and numerous public and private schools at all grade levels.
  • Active participant in public school anti-drug programs as the spokesman for "No Hope in Dope."
  • As chairman of the NFL Hawaii Pro Bowl Host Committee, secured charitable grants for organizations serving our youth (e.g., Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, Leeward YMCA, No Hope in Dope, and Kalihi-Palama Weed and Seed Program)
  • Iolani School Board of Governors member since 1990.
  • DREAM Team Hawaii Advisory Board member; this non-profit organization operates free youth entrepreneurship programs in public elementary and middle schools.
  • Presented $200 at each of three schools, Aiea Intermediate, Highlands Intermediate, and Waipahu Intermediate, as a result of participation in the Hawaii Stars program.
  • Slam and Jam: Sponsored the popular Slam and Jam, pitting teams of local celebrities and teens in basketball contests to bring together role models ranging from radio personalities to police officers to star athletes, to interact with at-risk young people. Events were held in Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Kalihi (involving teens from Kuhio Park Terrace and Mayor Wright Housing, Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, and Detention Home).
  • Helped underwrite the costs for public school students to participate in the U.S. Space Camp at Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Secured corporate sponsorship to bring neighbor island students to Oahu to visit the Space Expo at the Bishop Museum.
  • Sponsored, through the Office of Space Industries, "Future Flight Hawaii," an educational space science and exploration program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo for grade school students who excel in math and science.
  • At-Risk-Youth: Appropriated $150,000 to the City's Department of Community and Social Resources to help at-risk youth and address gang problems.


ENVIRONMENT

  • Protected Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Led efforts to have Hanauma Bay closed for an additional half-day to restrict use of this fragile and over-taxed resource, called for the completion and provided the funding for a carrying-capacity study to determine appropriate limits on beach-going , and established a special fund for admission and parking fees to be set aside for the preservation and expansion of the preserve.
  • Succeeded, as Planning Committee Chair, in designating Ka Iwi shoreline area for park use. This will ensure the coastline from Makapuu to Hanauma Bay will remain free of development.
  • Worked with the community and Hawaiian Electric to move utility lines underground along the makai side of Kamehameha Highway from Pearl City Elementary to McGrew Point.
  • Secured a commitment from the Department of Land Utilization regarding public notice before authorizing the erection of telecommunications antennas in neighborhoods.
  • Adopt-a-Block: Co-sponsored the City's adopt-a-block program legislation, in which groups and businesses can adopt a block and keep it free of litter and graffiti. Cleanups are limited to public property, such as walls, sidewalks, and curbs. The City furnishes free supplies and materials and removes the trash after a clean-up.
  • Graffiti Busters: Backed additional funding for this program that combats graffiti.
  • Through the Energy Exhibition at Ala Moana Center, provided a greater understanding of energy-related resources in Hawaii and gave consumers activities and practical information on energy efficiency/conservation practices.
  • Provided a $75,000 loan from the Community-Based Economic Development Program to Campaign Recycle Maui, a non-profit group, to purchase a truck, front-end loader, to rebuild a grinding machine and provide working capital.
  • Conducted a seminar on the Model Energy Code being developed to promote energy-efficient design practices in new and renovated buildings.
  • Made $187,000 of Federal funds available to non-profit schools, universities, and hospitals for energy conservation changes made to their buildings.
  • Sponsored a workshop with The Recycling Association of Hawaii on "Recycling Means Business" to promote the development of a viable recycling industry in Hawaii.


OTHER

  • As Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee, brought major focus and attention to the need for a more culturally sensitive City policy regarding Hawaiian burial sites and iwi.
  • Introduced legislation to establish a three-member advisory panel of Hawaiiana experts to provide guidance and expertise on the naming, in Hawaiian, of City streets.
  • Co-authored legislation that resulted in a more comprehensive smoking ban than mandated previously.
  • Introduced legislation to permit exclusive use of City logos on commercial products for sale at City Store.