LIHUE — Vince Flores enjoys the simple life. Almost every day, he wakes up, takes care of his animals and goes to work in his shop, Shank 808, in Old Koloa Town. “I’m a hunter,” the 51-year-old Lawai resident said. “I
LIHUE — Vince Flores enjoys the simple life.
Almost every day, he wakes up, takes care of his animals and goes to work in his shop, Shank 808, in Old Koloa Town.
“I’m a hunter,” the 51-year-old Lawai resident said. “I love enjoying the island the way it is. My grandfather taught me how to live off of the land, and we have a lot of fruit trees up there in the mountains that we can survive on if a tragedy were to hit this island.”
But things, he said, are changing.
Those who moved to Kauai for its rural character, he contends, also brought views with them that have gradually changed the island’s way of life.
His two children, Flores said, moved to the Mainland because the cost of living is lower and there are more job opportunities.
After mulling a run for office for nearly four years, Flores decided to run in this year’s election for the House District 16 seat held by Democratic incumbent Daynette “Dee” Morikawa.
“There’s so much that I haven’t done for the people, but I believe God was preparing me — to soften my heart — for the people and to serve them,” Flores said.
If elected, Flores said he would like to reform the state’s public education system by tailoring the curriculum taught to college-bound students and those who don’t have higher education pursuits. For those students who do not want to go to college, Flores said he would like to create more programs that stimulate their creative talents.
“What we need to do is bring out the talent that they do have with their hands — their craftsmanship,” Flores said. “If we can bring that out in a school environment, the talent that they have with their hands, that might fire a spark so that they might strive to go to college to do woodcrafts, welding, or any type of crafts.”
Flores said he also wants to create a program for high school juniors and seniors that teaches them about politics.
“If you live in America, the only people who can ultimately make changes are the voters, but there must also be an understanding of who they are voting for,” he said. “I want to wake up the people who are sleeping, the young and adults, and let them know that their votes count — you can make a difference, but you can’t vote people in because they’re your uncle, aunty or good friend.”
Flores will face fellow Republican Victoria “Vickie” Franks in the primary election for a spot on their party’s ticket in the general election.
Morikawa, meanwhile, will square off against fellow Democrat Thomas “Butch” Kahawai in the primary election for their party’s House District 16 bid in the general election.
