China trade enters Two of the three Republican candidates for lieutenant governor sniped and trashed each other's ideas on stimulating Hawaii's economy during a live televised debate last night.
debate in GOP race
Lt. gov candidates discuss ways
to boost Hawaii’s economyBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.comIn what could be seen as a move to distinguish themselves from each other, Dalton Tanonaka and James "Duke" Aiona questioned each other on whether establishing economic ties with China was a good idea.
Tanonaka, Aiona and Cam Cavasso took part in the debate on 'Olelo Community Television.
Aiona suggested that there are no "silver bullets" in stimulating Hawaii's down financial situation, but he suggested fixing the economy from the inside.
"We need to create a more business-friendly attitude in government. We need to streamline the permit process -- regulations, fees, taxes -- to encourage more profitability for these small businesses," said Aiona, an attorney and former state judge.
Tanonaka snapped back, telling Aiona, "I'm not sure what that means by fixing the economy from within, because you can fix it, but you need new money, you need investors, you need people who say, 'I will invest in Hawaii because we believe that you have an economic future.'"
Tanonaka suggested that as lieutenant governor he could help the state make a bid to become the headquarters for APEC -- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
"It would make economic sense to locate it in Hawaii. If that is done successfully or not, Hawaii is going to be on the map," said Tanonaka, a former CNN news international anchor.
"I'd really like to agree with Dalton ... on his economic plan on Asian development," Aiona said. "But I've spoken with mayors of some Chinese provinces, I've spoken to some local island traders and ... I've also spoken with an experienced U.S. emissary in China trade, and, Dalton, they just said that your plan can't work."
Aiona said that Hawaii cannot produce what China needs.
"And so it becomes clear that the Asian project that you have is not the magic wand we need for our economy," Aiona said.
Tanonaka replied that "APEC is different from China trade. I don't know how we got onto China trade."
But Tanonaka told Aiona that representatives of the local Chinese community agree that Hawaii needs to develop trade directly with China.
"China is the big economic story this century, Duke. I don't know which Chinese leaders in this community you talked to, but from (former U.S.) Sen. Hiram Fong on down is saying we need to develop relations with China."
Aiona countered that the kind of trade that Tanonaka is talking about is not feasible "in relation to how we're going to get regulations going. ... You're talking about developing some type of relationship with a country that we have to deal on a federal level with."
Cavasso, meanwhile, suggested that in order to stimulate the economy, an end must come to what he called "oppressive" business regulation in Hawaii and to encourage competition and discourage waste.
State Office of Elections
