State House District 30 candidate Carole Kaapu on the issues

KALIHI—Candidate Carole Kaapu is running in the General Election on November 2 for State House District 30, which is comprised of Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley, and Fort Shafter.

The Hawaii Independent presented questions to each General Election candidate. Responses will be published in the order in which they are received.

Kaapu is a business owner and graduate of Kamehameha Schools, the University of Hawaii-Hilo, and Drexel University.

Here are her responses.

Why are you running for office?
To offer my neighbors a choice. To put our government and economy back on track.

What is the single most important issue for your constituents?
The economy.

What would you change in the way that issue is being handled presently?
Reduce taxes, encourage small businesses.

Who is your largest campaign contributor?
Myself.

Who do you plan on including in your staff?
I will look into that after the election.

What’s your strategy in dealing with the “homeless”?
Identify the cause of homelessness for each person. Deal with the issues that cause the homelessness. There is no “one size fits all” solution.

What’s your stance on rail? Can Hawaii afford it?
I am against rail. No we can not afford it!

Where do you stand on civil unions? Would you have voted in favor of HB 444?
I am against it. No.

Do you support the Akaka Bill?
Yes parts and no parts.

How do we get Hawaii residents active in the elections process?
Educate them on the process. Help them see that they have the power to change things. Get them registered and understand the importance of actually voting.

How can we help Hawaii’s small businesses to stay alive during these hard times?
Reduce taxes and barriers to business growth.

How do we solve Hawaii’s unemployment problem?
Help small business grow.

For more information, visit http://www.carolekaapu.org.