LIHU‘E — There were more candidates in the general election than kupuna who showed up for the Tuesday coffee hour coordinated by Pam Jardin of the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center seniors.
The site manager for the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center said the COVID-19 has made the senior citizens afraid to leave their homes.
“I’m alive,” said Lihu‘e kupuna Naty Bali, as she received a tap on the shoulder from state Senate candidate Ana Mo Des. “I try to stay alive.”
Jardin said she just emailed candidates from the election list with an invitation to participate in the coffee hour, where kupuna could get to know candidates better, or better still, get to put a face to a name that’s on the list.
The candidates responded, including Joe Akana, a candidate for the U.S. House district that includes rural O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands, who flew in after hearing that gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona was going to be in attendance. Akana’s opponent, Jill Tokuda, was also on-island Monday for several meetings.
Jardin said after watching kupuna become frustrated over not knowing who the candidates were and the lack of any political action like forums, debates or meet-and-greets, she took it on herself to email the candidates and see who would show up.
A similar frustration was expressed by a Foster Grandparent — not Jardin — during the county Agency on Elderly Affairs Kaua‘i Retired and Senior Volunteer Program National Day of Service gathering Saturday where the Foster Grandparents were volunteering at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e.
“I invited her to join us,” Jardin said. “But she was having problem with equilibrium.”
Each of the candidates was allowed three minutes to introduce themselves to the kupuna and spend some time talking about various topics of interest that ranged from housing, inflation, elderly services and more, with allowances for kupuna questions during the presentations.
Following the introductory protocol, an open-question period ignited lively discussions on various topics, including the recent vote to increase pay for the Kaua‘i County Council, and frustrations over additional dwellings on ‘ohana-zoned property.
Everyone was invited to coffee featuring donated refreshments from the candidates themselves.
“This is overwhelming,” Jardin said. “I’m so glad I emailed the candidates.”
Another County Council candidate forum takes place Thursday, hosted by the Kapa‘a Business Association, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dolphin Touch Wellness Center in Kapa‘a next to The Musubi Truck.
Some of the topics that will be discussed include crime, traffic, housing, over-tourism, staffing shortages and more.
“Join us to listen, ask questions and share concerns with our prospective future leaders,” said Jacqueline Manibusan, president of the Kapa‘a Business Association.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
