I don’t believe in no-win scenarios. Sure, we can fail. However, there is always a way to succeed. We can make the impossible possible. Whether you succeed or fail does not matter. What matters is how hard you tried.
Hawaii is going through its worst economic downturn. I am determined to make Hawaii more sustainable by reducing our reliance on imports such as oil and out-of-state food by supporting renewable energy development and local farmers. I will do all I can to strengthen our tourism, technology, science, health, and film industries. I will continue to support project-based learning in our public grade schools and ensure we have a stable public community college and university system. Finally, I am committed to reduce violence in Hawaii.
In summary, these are my short-term goals for Hawaii: 1. Make Hawaii a top 100 economic power per capita in the world; 2. Ensure 30% of our food is grown in Hawaii; 3. Have 10% of our energy produced in Hawaii; and 4. Reduce Hawaii’s violent crimes by 40%.
My long-term and far-fetched goals for Hawaii: 1. Make Hawaii a top 25 economic power per capita in the world; 2. Ensure 45% of our food is grown in Hawaii; 3. Have 20% of our energy produced in Hawaii; and 4. Reduce Hawaii’s violent crimes by 75%.
Success of the above goals will give Hawaii the flexibility to provide more services in areas of transportation, health coverage, and long-term care. My goal is to have a diversified transportation system, ensure 97% of Hawaii’s people are covered with health insurance, and create a program to help expand long-term care insurance coverage to 90% of Hawaii’s population.
My long-term & far-fetched goals for the world: Reduce the violence in the world by 75%, unite 90% of the world’s countries, expand space exploration beyond our galaxy. Dreams are what makes me look forward to tomorrow.
I don’t believe in no-win scenarios even for our personal lives. Negativity may knock us down, but we will get back up and come back a thousandfold stronger and nothing will stop us. I wish everyone happiness and compassion.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 
Rep. John Karamatsu,
Please continue to support ways to help Hawaii’s government to reduce its spending. Currently HSTA teachers are taking 17 days of furloughs per school year for the next 2 years, with potentially other public unions to follow suit to help balance the budget for this and next fiscal year.
If Government spending does not scale back, what is to say we’re in the same situation couple of years from now when furloughs are over. Habits of spending needs to change to fit the economy now and in the future.
I personally believe in my own savings, never to spend all I have for these rainy days. Perhaps lessons can be learn from the current situation to help us in the coming years.
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Dear Emmet,
Thank you for your comment. The state cut 1/3 of its general fund budget, which is unheard of in the history of the State of Hawaii. My mom, a teacher and relatives and friends in state government are among the many affected by the fiscal cuts.
I agree with you in that we must prepare for “rainy days”. If I get into the executive branch, I support increasing the rainy day fund to at least half a billion dollars although that would not have been enough for the current economic situation. I will continue to support keeping the government lean but mean enough to service our highways, lighting, courts, etc.
My website explains all the “moving parts” to strengthen our economy.
I will continue to support locally produced food and energy and cut our reliance on imports. We need to keep more of our money in Hawaii. I will also help bring in new money into Hawaii.
Below is a number of my platform goals:
1. Support Hawaii agriculture land classification;
2. Support agriculture research to protect produce from disease and make them taste delicious and have a longer shelf life than competitive brands;
3. Increase renewable energy technology;
4. Incentives to encourage exporters who bring in 90% of their revenue from out of the State of Hawaii.
5. Incentives for investors in technology, science, and film;
6. Market Hawaii as a tourist destination for bargain shoppers and to the new emerging middle class markets in Asia.
7. Increase project-based learning in public schools; and
8. Implement a peace education program in public schools regarding conflict resolution, bullying, domestic violence, and sexual assault (so much money is spent on the social programs cleaning up the mess of an individual who resorts to violence).
Sincerely,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
State Representative
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