Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, May 27, 2014

     The Party also elected a new chair, Pat Saiki, who was the first Republican from the state of Hawai`i to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She also served in the state House of Representatives and Senate. A former Hilo school teacher, she headed the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Presidency of George H.W. Bush.  

     In a statement, Saiki she said that during the convention, Hawai`i Republicans reaffirmed their LLIFE platform "of Liberty, Limited Government, Individual Responsibility, Fiscal Accountability and Equality of Opportunity."

     She and other leaders said the Republicans want to register 25,000 more members before the November General Election.
    One resolution in the new Hawai`i Republican Platform is supported by many Democrats and Republicans. It calls for an adjustment of the Jones Act, which prevents foreign built, owned and managed ships from transporting cargo and passengers between U.S. ports. The Repubican platform calls on congress to exempt Hawai`i, Puerto Rico, Alaska and Guam, allowing them to be served by foreign ships coming from other U.S. ports. Reform could lower the cost of exporting and importing food and other cargo by sea between Hawai`i and the mainland, as well as encourage more cruise ships to come to the islands. It could also lower the cost of energy, by lowering fuel transportation costs. To make the change, the 1920 federal act would have to be amended or repealed by congress. Its original intention was to protect U.S. ship building interests and to preserve a fleet of U.S. owned ships that could be used during emergencies, such as wartime. However, the cost of building ships in the U.S. is much higher than such places as Japan and China, making the cost of domestic ocean transport very expensive.

Hawai`i state's first Republican member to congress, Pat Saiki, was elected recently to chair the Hawai`i Republican Party. Photo from Hawai`i Republican Party

     As reported today in the Hawai`i Reporter, the new Chair of the Hawai`i Republican Party told Michael Hansen, chair of the Hawai`i Shippers Council, that "Many in politics have expressed their concern over the high cost of living here in Hawai`i. Being the most expensive state in which to live, with goods and services including food costs higher than any other state in the nation, is of real concern to our people. But few in power today have done much to alleviate this situation. Getting an exemption from the Jones Act, as expressed in the Resolution recently passed by our Republican Party is one of the ways by which we can effectively change things for the better. Our Party is committed to finding such solutions to a serious problem and we seek support for our candidates to lead the way," said Saiki.

New Republican Party Chair for Hawai`i, Pat Saiki with Sam Slom, sole Republican in the state Senate.  Photo from Hawai`i Republican Party

      Candidate Aiona said that “The Jones act is a federal regulation that affects all the people of Hawai`i. It is time for all stakeholders to come together and resolve this issue in a manner that is in the best interests of our state. I am encouraged and excited by the Hawai`i Shipping Council's recent proposal and the Republican Party's resolution relating to the Jones Act. I look forward to providing the leadership needed for this resolution.”

   According to Hawai`i Reporter, U.S. Senatorial candidate Campbell “Cam” Cavasso, a Republican who will likely face either U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz or U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in November, declared, 'It is time for our Hawai`i to free our people from the bonds of federal regulations which artificially increase the cost of living for every family by multiplied thousands of dollars. It is time to set our people free from extreme, external regulations costing every man, woman, and child in Hawai`i. We can do this now.'"
    Hawai`i Reporter also included remarks by Hawai`i state Rep. Gene Ward, a Republican and minority leader emeritus: "As the cost to feed ourselves escalates and we continue to import over 80 percent of everything we consume, the most sustainable approach to food security in Hawai`i is lowering the cost of living by lowering the cost of shipping. We know we can cut the grocery bills of Hawai`i's struggling families through a minor exemption to the Jones Act-but we have not acted. Now is the time to press for real food security and sustainability by using all the ships in the world to come to our shores, not just a select expensive few under the Jones Act. If only a fraction of the people understood the Jones Act and how it punishes us, Hawai`i would be quick to act for an exemption as we have done with Obama Care to protect our Pre-Paid Healthcare in Hawai`i. National security will not be effected and in their hearts, the naysayers know this is true."

Duke Aiona is the most prominent Republican contender for governor. To his left is Republican congressional candidate Charles Djou. Photo from Hawai`i Republican Party

    Republican state Senator Sam Slom, minority leader and introducer of a Jones Act reform resolution, told Hawai`i Reporter,"Thanks to the work of the Hawai`i Shippers Council and others, I feel after 20 years of activity, the public has a better understanding of the cost impact of the Jones Act and our options. We welcome support from the Hawai`i Republican Party but reiterate this reform is a non-partisan issue that negatively affects all residents of Hawai`i. We welcome future support from political, social and business organizations. We can win this issue."
    Regarding Memorial Day, Saiki released a statement quoting Ronald Reagan: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."