Kim Coco Iwamoto’s District 25 win against 30-year incumbent, representative and Speaker of the House for the past six years, Scott Saiki, is a truly historic achievement.

Saiki was publicly endorsed and supported by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, Governor Josh Green, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

Why is this relevant to voters in every district, across the archipelago?

Iwamoto’s phenomenal victory demonstrates clearly the power and effectiveness of grassroots organizing, and the fundamental all-essential value of perseverance.

Her win against the most powerful man in the House, sends a clear message that every incumbent regardless of title and position is vulnerable to a similar “never, never quit” attitude backed by a strong on the ground, direct voter contact and people-centered campaign.

Another message that hopefully sinks into every single incumbent in the big square building is that business as usual is over.

Voters are increasingly aware and overwhelmingly disgusted with the good ole boy, you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours, pay-to-play culture, that now dominates the legislative process.

The past practice of legislative leadership and committee chairs killing bills for personal and political reasons is ethically corrupt and must be stopped.

The unilateral authority now granted individual legislators to control legislative outcomes creates an environment that invites corruption.

The rules of the House and Senate must be changed to require the passage or failure of legislative proposals be based on public votes of committee members, following a public discussion, in which the public is allowed to speak.

Neither the speaker via the referral process, nor a committee chair by refusing to hear a bill or deciding to “defer indefinitely,” should hold the power to single-handily prevent a bill from passing into law, which is presently the case.

Every measure introduced with legislative sponsorship from 1/3 of the members or more, deserves a public hearing and a public vote. Minority voices need to at least be allowed to speak and then let the votes fall where they may.

The time for true reform of both the legislative process rules and the campaign spending law is now.

Under existing law, incumbents may possess a political war-chest of an unlimited amount of money, and they may use those funds to support the election of their friends.

It’s way past time to follow the model of other states, cap the war chests, and prohibit candidates from using campaign funds for any purpose other than paying for their own legitimate and direct campaign expenses.

It’s also way past time to pass a strong Clean Elections bill that provides a base level of public funds to credible candidates who agree to strict spending limits.

Twelve years serving in public office is enough time to make a difference and then to move on. There are many possible formulas and numbers to choose from, but in my humble opinion 12 years as a member of the House or Senate is enough. The term-limit question should be put before the voters.

Kim Coco Iwamoto and a great majority of candidates on every island have stated in various campaign questionnaires — broad-based support for campaign finance reform, term-limits, and “good government” reforms in general.

We as citizen advocates must now strike while the iron is hot. We must continue pushing hard to carry the momentum for positive change forward through to the general election, the opening of the 2025 legislative session on Jan. 15, and sine die on May 1.

We will know without a doubt on May 2, who our friends are, who fought against the reforms, and who supported and championed them. We can then prepare accordingly for the elections of 2026.

But first, we must deal with the general election less than three months from now.

Please help if you can. Ask the candidates (from all parties) running for the House and Senate in your district- whether or not they support the above described reforms.

Do not ever doubt, even for one tiny little bit, that your voice and your vote can make a difference.

Gary Hooser
former Hawaiʻi State Senator, Majority Leader, Kaua`i County Councilmember
http://www.garyhooser.com
First published in The Garden Island Newspaper 08/21/24