LIHU‘E — Daynette “Dee” Morikawa formally announced her candidacy for the District 16 seat in the state House of Representatives, last week. One of the first things she did when arriving to file her papers was to bring Hamiha Arquette,
LIHU‘E — Daynette “Dee” Morikawa formally announced her candidacy for the District 16 seat in the state House of Representatives, last week.
One of the first things she did when arriving to file her papers was to bring Hamiha Arquette, a 2010 graduate of Waimea High School and a Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf all-star, to register to vote.
“Throughout my entire professional career, I have been, and shall remain, a public servant,” Morikawa, currently with the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, said in an e-mail.
“I intend to continue my commitment to Kaua‘i by returning representation to the island.”
Morikawa, who also served as the Waimea High School girls golf coach, said in a release there are three areas she is concerned about — education, elderly services and retiree benefits, and infrastructure improvements.
“The furloughing of schools was, and is, unacceptable,” said Morikawa, an active Hawai‘i Government Employees Association member.
“While the Legislature’s recent move to tap the hurricane relief fund restores school operations for the next school year, this remedy is temporary. Measures need to be instituted to ensure that our keiki’s education and future are never again sacrificed.”
In the area of elderly services and retiree benefits, Morikawa said, “We are the beneficiaries of the past and trustees of the future. Our kupuna have brought us to where we are today — their quality of life must be protected.”
Morikawa feels that despite the economic hardships taking place within the nation and the state, infrastructure-improvement projects have been taking place and District 16 (Po‘ipu to Kekaha, Ni‘ihau) needs to receive its fair share of state-funded projects.
“I am running for the House of Representatives’ 16th District seat to ensure that our community’s voices are heard and acted upon,” Morikawa said.
“My husband, Ken Morikawa, and I raised our children, Kevin, Kelsey, Kollin and Ken Jr. in Waimea. We have been actively involved through West Kaua‘i activities.”
She feel that in the face of a struggling economy and a dwindling budget, many of Kaua‘i’s citizens were ignored and communities were overlooked.
State Rep. Roland D. Sagum III is the district’s current representative, and a Democrat.
