Donations 💸
Kahi
Rejects all corporate contributions: PAC and corporate lobbyist donations, donations from executive officers of luxury and out-of-state developers, major landowners, hotel conglomerates, energy monopolies, and military contractors.
Mark
Majority of contributions from PACs and special interests. Top donors include Big Tobacco, Monsanto/Syngenta (10% of donations over time), Development, Real Estate & Construction Labor (20% of donations), and more... (Source: Civil Beat, CSC Data)
Environment 🌎
Kahi
Kahi is a lifelong environmentalist and waterman. He co-founded Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi, Chairs Honolulu County's Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission and serves as the Hawaiʻi Director of global environmental organization Parley for the Oceans.
Mark
Neutered a yearslong effort to pass transformative legislation which would have depoliticized water regulation and ensured balanced interests in regulating and enforcing water violations. Relegated it to a working group full of the landowners it is supposed to regulate. (Source: YouTube)
Agriculture 🧑🌾
Kahi
Supports and participates in community-led sustainable and indigenous agricultural initiatives and urban farming. Has advocated alongside leading watchdog organizations for pesticide limits and school safety for our keiki.
Mark
As Chair of the Agriculture Committee and a major lifetime recipient of Big Ag and pesticide campaign donations, he refused to hear bills that would have: created a buffer zone around schools for spraying toxic pesticides (HB1530), banned the use of highly dangerous pesticides on state lands (HB2361), and would have better enforced and strengthened pesticide laws and regulations (HB831, HB2268).
Tree Planting 🌳
Kahi
Plants trees in Kuliʻouʻou with Aloha Tree Alliance.
Mark
Only Hawaiʻi Democrat on a Republican delegation to plant trees in Israel as a part of a propaganda trip for state legislators that occurred while Israeli forces were invading Gaza City and while the ongoing siege of Gaza was still taking place by the Israeli government. (Source: Civil Beat)
Land Use & Public Spaces ⛰️
Kahi
Chair of the City's Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission and directed millions in funding to protect land in District 19 and across the island. Created and adopted a plot at Wāwāmalu (Sandy Beach) and led community efforts to protect the coastline at through shoreline cleanups, restoration of native plants and the rehabilitation of dunes and trails.
Mark
Recklessly threatened Senior recreation programs in the district through the transfer of Kīlauea District Park. (Source: Civil Beat, Hawaii News Now)
As Chair of the Water and Land committee, refused to hear any legislation related to creating process, structure, or conditions around the upcoming military lease expirations, negotiations and use of public lands (HB2048, HB1916, HB2100).
Good Government 🧑⚖️
Kahi
Has been an active leader in the Clean Elections Hawaii coalition for the last 3 years which helped pass the landmark bill to curb the impact of unlimited dark money and corporate spending in politics. He advocates for fully publicly financed elections.
Mark
Receives government contracts through one of his businesses.(Source: Civil Beat)
Opposes term limits for legislators.
Has only attended 7 out of 75 (9%) of monthly neighborhood board meetings since January 2024 (Source: Neighborhood Commission Office)
Endorsements 🗳️
Kahi
Our Hawaiʻi, Unite Here Local 5, Sierra Club, Hawaii Firefighters Association, Lead Locally, Hawaiʻi Nurses' Association OPEIU
Mark
His website section is currently blank as of printing...