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By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Mayor Jeremy Harris, left, and City Councilman Mufi
Hannemann will face off in two more debates
tomorrow and Friday.

Hannemann
rips mayor’s self-
serving galas,
‘giveaways’

Harris: Charges that things worsened during
his challenger's term as state business
and economic chief

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Hannemann: Finds the city lacking in development
planning, independent oversight and vision

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Challenger Mufi Hannemann is going on the offensive in his quest for the Honolulu mayor's seat, charging that incumbent Jeremy Harris is "running a campaign as opposed to running the city."

Harris countered that Hannemann had a checkered record during his tenure as director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The spirited sparring took place yesterday at a debate at the Honolulu Country Club sponsored by the Kalihi Business Association. It was the first of three mayoral debates on consecutive days.

The runoff election on Sept. 23 could decide who will be mayor if the top vote-getter receives more than 50 percent of the votes cast. Otherwise, the top two finishers will face off in the general election Nov. 7.

Hannemann said Harris has been running an expensive advertising campaign to win voters, "inundating you with thousands of giveaways" from watermelons to squash.

Further, he said, Harris carefully planned a series of city-sponsored grand openings, dedications or other celebrations in the guise of public service to make himself look good.

Harris also pointed fingers at his opponent, however, telling the audience how unemployment worsened while Hannemann was director of the Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism for two years in the early 1990s. Harris noted employment on Oahu has increased while he's been mayor.

Hannemann, in defense, noted that his time at the state department was marked by devastation on Kauai by Hurricane Iniki and the downturn in tourism caused by the Persian Gulf War. He said visitor gains increased by 5 percent by the time he left.

Among other issues discussed:

Ewa Villages: Hannemann said the scandal -- involving the bilking of $6 million by two city housing employees and their cohorts -- is not over with the conviction of main instigator Michael Kahapea. The city still owes $72.5 million for trying to renovate the area, he said, citing internal reports stating that the city did not have a good "exit strategy."

Hannemann said the scandal showed why an independent auditor's position is needed to look into improprieties.

Harris said the city has changed its procedures to ensure that the loopholes exploited by Kahapea and his colleagues are closed. He said Hannemann voted for an exit plan in 1999 and that the amount due is now $38.5 million.

Hannemann, while on the Council, could very easily have created an auditor's post without getting legislation to do so, the mayor said, adding that he would have supported it.

Capital improvements in Waikiki and elsewhere: Harris said he has pushed through myriad projects that have beautified Waikiki.

"We have to turn Waikiki around if we want the visitors to come back."

Harris said his vision team process allows communities to "come up with their own values and own projects" rather than rely on what government thinks is good for them.

Hannemann said the mayor's projects are quickly, and sometimes improperly, "rushed to get everything done before Sept. 23 (election day)." He noted that several projects, including the Kapiolani Park bandstand, do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

As for the vision team process, the challenger said that residents from Kalihi Valley, where Harris resides, have walked out of meetings because the mayor has been attempting to manipulate funding for the area.