Friday, July 30, 2010

Come join us!

KUALI`I for Council Campaign Schedule (Primary Election)

SIGN-WAVING

Wednesdays 4:15-5:45pm
[July 14th thru Sep. 15th]
UPW Hall / 4211 Rice St

Thursdays (even dates) 7am-9am
[July 22nd; August 12th & 26th; Sep. 2nd & 16th]
Between Pineapple Store & Kaua`i Beach Dr on Kūhi‘ō Hwy (incoming / eastside)
(where the motorcycle riders park; mile marker 3)

Thursdays (even dates) 3:45-6:15pm
[July 22nd; August 12th & 26th; Sep. 2nd & 16th]
Demo Forest just before Humane Society (outgoing / westside)

Thursdays (odd dates) 7am-9am
[July 15th & 29th; August 5th & 19th; Sep. 9th]
Komohana (last subdivision in Puhi) (incoming / westside)

Thursdays (odd dates) 3:45-6:15pm
[July 15th & 29th; August 5th & 19th; Sep. 9th]
Airport Intersection (outgoing / eastside)

Fridays 3:45-6:15pm
[July 16th thru Sep. 17th]
Anahola (Kūhi‘ō Hwy near Market) {look for colorful flags}
(Call Sandra 635-2799 or Debra 652-2724)



MEETINGS, WORK DAYS & PHONEBANKING

Wednesdays 5:45pm
[July 14th thru Sep. 15th]
UPW Hall / 4211 Rice St


DOOR-TO-DOOR (Visiting voters w/ KipuKai)

Saturdays & Sundays
   9am, 1pm & 4pm

Tuesdays & Fridays
           5pm

Call to volunteer in your neighborhood!


GET-OUT-THE-VOTE
       Sat., Sep. 18th
         8am to 5pm

Call to volunteer at your polling place!

For more info. or to volunteer, call 212-9192 or 652-3684.

Send donations to:

KUALI`I for Kaua`i
PO Box 662061
Lihu`e, Kaua`i 96766

Sunday, September 28, 2008

KUALI`I receives support of Kaua`i's working families

For Immediate Release Friday, September 12, 2008

KipuKai Leslie KUALI`I 212-9192 or 652-3684

KUALI`I receives support of Kaua`i’s working families

After making his requests and sitting through their Political Action Committee (PAC) interviews, council candidate and longtime community organizer, KipuKai Leslie KUALI`I received the endorsements from several of the labor unions representing Kaua`i’s working families.

So far, KUALI`I’s labor endorsements include the…
Firefighters or the Hawai`i Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463
HGEA or the Hawai`i Government Employees Association (HGEA), AFSCME Local 152 primarily representing white collar workers from the State and County
ILWU or the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local 142
Laborers or the Laborers’, Local 368
SHOPO or the State of Hawai`i Organization of Police Officers
UPW or the United Public Workers (UPW), AFSCME Local 646 primarily representing blue collar workers from the State and County

Emphasizing empathy as one of his greatest strengths, Rowena Tachibana, UPW Kaua`i Division Secretary stated, “KipuKai is a genuine, thoughtful and compassionate leader who understands first-hand the challenges facing our working families and our island. It’s not surprising our PAC members voted unanimously to support his candidacy.”

Reacting to all the endorsements, KUALI`I said, “As a community organizer and champion of working people, I’m honored and humbled to have these endorsements from the workers who keep our County and State running and who contribute significantly to our island community’s quality of life. These endorsements and my solid experience fighting for economic justice is helping our campaign generate support from working families across Kaua`i.”

UPW State Director Dayton Nakanelua shared, “I always believed that KipuKai KUALI`I had what it takes to be an effective elected leader. I’m really looking forward to his service on the Council. KipuKai’s core values, passion, dedication and commitment for Kaua`i and its people will serve to guide him in issues brought to the Council.”

KUALI`I served as Business Agent for the UPW in 2004-05 and is currently a member of the Hawai`i Government Employees Association (HGEA), AFSCME Local 152. A community organizer and labor activist, KUALI`I has been part of the labor movement for over twenty (20) years. His father, Wilfred KUALI`I of Puhi, was a sugar plantation worker and International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) member for thirty-five (35) years. KUALI`I says he’s grateful for the security his family had with union-provided, first-rate healthcare benefits; even describing his beautiful smile enthusiastically as “union-made teeth”. He also fondly remembers the good times the family enjoyed at drive-in, political rallies in the park next to the old police station.

Leilani Mindoro, UPW Kaua`i Division Director shared, “Having worked side-by-side with KipuKai, I know him to be smart, energetic and dedicated to helping people. He definitely has the vision and the follow through to make real and positive change.”

Being the organizer he is, KUALI`I has been sharing campaign coordination with union member supporters including campaign calendars, brochures, bumper stickers, buttons and volunteer cards for distribution. Members have already begun campaigning with KUALI`I sign-waving and going door-to-door.

Kaua`i native KipuKai Leslie KUALI`I is a first-time candidate for the Kaua`i County Council. To find out more about his candidacy, visit www.kualii.org or call 212-9192.
###

Friday, September 12, 2008

KipuKai`s 2nd article in G.I. (Q&A)

Council candidates answers Sunday, September 7, 2008

by Michael Levine - The Garden Island

Editor’s note: The following seven questions were posed to the 23 candidates for Kauai County Council. Two candidates a day will have their answers reprinted in their entirety until all candidates’ answers have appeared.

1) Define what future development on Kaua‘i means to you. Please use specifics.
2) What is your vision of the island in 10 years?
3) What specific credentials do you have for being a County Council member? Why are you the best for our county? Again, let’s get specific. What positions of power have you held in the past? What connections do you have that will benefit the county?
4) How will you work with the other six members of the County Council if elected? Would like some specific tactics and strategies you would use to act on the county’s behalf within the larger group.
5) What is your history? Born and raised here? Mainlander? Family? Residence? Career? Education?
6) What does open government mean to you?
7) What is the single, most important issue to you?

KipuKai Les P. Kuali‘i

1) Future development on Kaua‘i to me has to include affordable housing to help alleviate the ever worsening problem of overcrowding and our “invisible homeless.” I would also like to see future development support job creation in green industries like sustainable agriculture and clean, renewable energy alternatives.Our planning process’ failure to direct and control growth in sensible and sensitive ways is diminishing our quality of life. Let’s require adherence to smart growth principles. Let’s pass a “Use it or lose it law” so unused development rights expire and not remain in effect indefinitely. And let’s amend the coastal setback laws based on the scientific results of the Coastal Erosion Study.

2) My vision for Kaua‘i in 10 years is for returning to resourcefulness and sustainability, and for reconnecting with our traditions and values, especially malama ‘aina (caring for our island) and malama kekahi i kekahi (caring for each other). I see us working hard together to solve our most pressing problems while preserving our island, culture and lifestyle.I see development being directed and controlled by smart growth planning, our solid waste challenges being met by aggressive maximum reduce, reuse and recycle programs, as well as community volunteer zero waste efforts and our energy challenges being met by successful clean, renewable energy alternative start-ups such as a wind and hydropower.I see more and more of our citizens benefitting from extensive community assistance outreach and education. Our fully overhauled real property tax system is providing relief to residents while also providing incentives to businesses. Our inpatient drug treatment center is fully operational and successful family-based treatment and prevention programs are ongoing. Our government leaders spend our tax dollars responsibly utilizing regular audits to prioritize county services and eliminate wasteful spending. Our citizens have full access to government and our sunshine laws will are some of the most progressive in the nation.

3) A passionate community organizer dedicated to helping others, I have over 20 years experience in labor, political and community campaigns across the country. Currently, I’m the coordinator of AKAMAI Mahi‘ai, a community economic development project creating an agricultural training and agribusiness center, developing local leaders and bringing additional resources to Anahola.I think I’m best for our county because I’m fully committed to working hard, working smart and working together with others.I’m currently a director with the Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, Hui Kako‘o ‘Aina Ho‘opulapula (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands waitlistee advocacy) and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. I’ve also been president and chief negotiator of the West Hollywood Municipal Employees union. As executive director with Pride At Work, AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., I was an effective community organizer, educator, lobbyist, writer and presenter.I traveled with Up With People for a year with 180 other young people from 15 different countries; lived with over 100 host families; performed and promoted a professionally produced musical show; attended lectures and discussions with civic, business, and industry leaders; as well as participated in community service projects. These experiences required teamwork, learning quickly, communicating effectively, self-confidence and empathy.

4) Would like some specific tactics and strategies you would use to act on the county’s behalf within the larger group.I will build strong working relationships with each of my six colleagues by being a good listener and by always being prepared to work on the issues. I will strive to always be professional and to approach each day and challenge with hard work, honesty and integrity.I will be a consensus builder and I will push for expediency on behalf of the people. I will always act in the best interest of the people of Kaua‘i and my motivation will always be to bring people together to make a difference. Finally, I understand what an honor and privilege it is to serve at the will of the people.

5) Born in Lihu‘e, I spent my first years in KipuKai Ranch where my parents, Wilfred Kuali‘i and Patricia Carvalho, worked and first met. I was raised in a large sugar plantation family in Old Puhi Camp (now the KCC garden farm). Mom and Dad taught us to be resourceful, work hard, put family first and take care of our island and each other.As the eldest son of the Corr family, Dad grew up in the lo‘i kalo (taro patches) and lo‘i pa‘akai (Hawaiian salt beds) of Hanapepe. He shared with us those experiences along with his proficiency as a paniolo (cowboy), hunter, fisherman and gardener.I credit my integrity and humility to my grandparents, James “Red” Corr and Melapa “May” Makanui of Hanapepe and Ernest “Shiriki” Carvalho and Clarissa Ferreira of Lihu‘e.I was an honors student at Immaculate Conception, Kamehameha and the University of the Pacific where I earned a degree in business administration.I have 20 years experience in government, labor and nonprofit administration, and I’ve worked for social and economic justice across the country before coming back home to help my own family and community.

6) Open government means our citizens have full access to their government and our sunshine laws are some of the most progressive sunshine laws in the nation.

7) Our planning process’s failure to direct and control growth in sensible and sensitive ways diminishes our quality of life. Let’s require adherence to smart growth principles. Let’s pass a “Use it or lose it law” so unused development rights expire and not remain in effect indefinitely. Such a law would have greatly reduced the development on our South Shore today. And let’s also amend the coastal setback laws based on the scientific results of the Coastal Erosion Study.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Our First Article in the Garden Island Newspaper!

Kuali`i: A new voice for old-time Kaua‘i
Sunday, June 15, 2008
by Nathan Eagle - THE GARDEN ISLAND

With his grassroots election campaign in full swing, Lihu`e resident KipuKai Leslie Kuali`i can be found out in the community telling voters why they should pick him on Nov. 4 to serve on the Kaua`i County Council.

The long-time labor organizer and activist said in an interview this week that he wants to give back, especially to the “struggling and disadvantaged.”

“I spent a lot of time away while I was on the Mainland working for other social justice causes,” said the 46-year-old Kuali`i, adding that he returned to be with his family on-island and continue his work here.

The first-time candidate said solid waste, traffic and affordable housing are the top three issues he will tackle with creative solutions.

“But I also want to make sure we’re doing all we can to help our kupuna and our children,” he said. “We need to make sure we’re giving the children enough options so they are not resorting to drugs and alcohol ... a horrible problem that affects most of our families.”

Kuali`i, a Democrat, said he will bring a level head and a cooperative spirit to the seven-member legislative body.

“Often it seems like they’re bickering a lot, and I’m sort of a middle-of-the-road moderate person who can work with all kinds of people,” he said. “I know it’ll take a team, too, and I can help.”

Kuali`i said he’s a passionate community organizer dedicated to helping others, and brings more than 20 years of experience in labor, political and community campaigns to the council.

“Coming from a large working-class family, I know firsthand about the struggles our people are facing, and I understand the importance of protecting our island’s natural and food resources,” he said.

Kuali`i said his campaign slogan, “A new voice for old-time Kaua‘i,” is about returning to resourcefulness or sustainability and reconnecting with traditions and values — especially malama ‘aina (caring for the island) and malama kekahi i kekahi (caring for each other).

He said his father grew up in the lo‘i kalo (taro patches) and lo‘i pa‘akai (salt beds) of Hanapepe and shared the experiences with him and his siblings.

“We’re going door-to-door to meet voters to share information on the existing homeowner property tax exemption credits available to homeowners, especially seniors, the disabled and those earning less than $40,000 a year,” he said. “We’ve been having a lot of fun with the campaign so far. My entire ‘ohana, especially Mom and Dad (Patricia Carvalho and Wilfred Kuali‘i of Puhi) have been working really hard.”

His sister, Debra, took the lead on a talk story fundraiser last Sunday at the Lihu`e Neighborhood Center.

Kuali`i, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, earned a business administration degree from the University of the Pacific.

He is the coordinator of AKAMAI Mahi`ai, a community economic development project creating an agricultural training and agribusiness center, developing local leaders and bringing additional resources to Anahola.

He also serves on the statewide Boards of the Hawai`i Alliance for the Community-Based Economic Development, Hui Kako`o `Aina Ho`opulapula and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

The primary election is Sept. 20. The general election is Nov. 4.

For more information, visit http://www.kualii.org/

• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com

MAHALO NUI LOA!!!

Aloha KUALI`I Supporters!

I wanted to send everyone a big MAHALO NUI LOA for making our Talk Story Luncheon last Sunday, June 8th a wonderful success!

We more than achieved our initial fundraising goals and are excited that we’ve already passed the first threshold qualifying for one-to-one matching from Public Funds.

If you weren't able to join us at the luncheon, you missed out on a wonderful event! We really enjoyed being together, eating ono food and listening to great local entertainment. Please allow me to send out our MAHALOs to...

* The entire KUALI`I `Ohana for their unconditional love, support and genuine hard work (especially Mom, Dad, my partner Joe, my brothers & my sisters).

* Aunty Betty, Uncle Sonny, Koni and everyone at Ibaan's Table Rentals

* Ted Keokolo Kapoi & his band and Lenny Breze & his band for all the wonderful music

* Uncle Michael, Aunty Sharon and Sherry Cacal for all the delicious desserts

* Michelle Namele Batalona for getting us started with a beautiful pule (prayer)

* All the folks who helped sell tickets and gather contributions

* All the folks who helped put our Talk Story Luncheon together

* And, of course, everyone who came and helped make our first-ever political fundraiser such a wonderful success!

If you weren't able to help out this time, no worry! There will be plenty more chances between now and Nov. 4th. Please contact our campaign and let us know about how you want to help and what your availability is.

Thanks again! We look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail. MAHALO!!!