The instability in the Middle East will continue to be a critical issue for the U.S. With the recent conflict between Israel and Lebanon, the ongoing American led war in Iraq and nuclear rumblings from Iran, this instability will undoubtedly have far-reaching affects on the future of the U.S. Currently we are spending billions of dollars to continue our military presence in Iraq despite the President's 2003 declaration that the "major combat operations in Iraq have ended". Continuing to support such a large military presence in Iraq is not only putting a strain on the country's finances but the service men and women involved in this pointless conflict. Marines who have already served their time are being involuntarily recalled due to a shortage of volunteers. This shortage speaks volumes.

The issue of global climate change will continue to affect the entire U.S. We are lucky as a nation that we have not yet experienced the more extreme impacts of global warming such as the flooding seen in Bangladesh and the experience of the low lying island nation of Tuvalu which is slowing becoming submerged as ocean levels rise. Many who discounted global warming have changed their tune and we as a nation need to begin to implement policies to address this serious threat. The first step would be to ratify the Kyoto Protocol to demonstrate to the world that we are willing to work to implement possibly painful solutions. We need to start considering how future generations will be forced to live tomorrow if we continue to put off taking action today.

Federal recognition of Native Hawaiians

Protecting Hawai'i's environment

Smart, multilateral foreign policy

Bypass roads for Kihei, Lahaina, Kapaa, and Waimea

Assistance with rural healthcare

Subsidies for high tech, agriculture, and renewable energy companies

Congressional District II is a diverse district with 96 distinct communities. Anyone who calls it totally rural hasn't been to Kailua or Kapolei town, and anyone who thinks it's the same as Honolulu hasn't been to Makawao or Laupahoehoe. Despite this diversity, the needs of its constituents are essentially the same - smart foreign policy, a federal budget that reflects the needs of our communities, and environmental protection

During my first term my legislative priorities would be to develop a more rational, multilateral, and strategic foreign policy, protect Hawai'i's natural environment, repeal or radically amend No Child Left Behind and bring home money for roads on the Neighbor Islands.

I'm tough and I've worked on the inside and outside in the legislature. Some politicians are used to people coming to them, - my style is more energetic and forceful than that - we need someone with the ability to articulate the needs of our state and who has the energy to get something done in a room full of barracudas.

Unfortunately investigating the pricing of oil and fluctuations in pump prices can lead to very different conclusions depending on who you ask. The Federal Trade Commission recently released a report stating that gasoline prices were not artificially manipulated in the post-Katrina aftermath, which seems counter to everyone's basic gut feeling. This begs the question of whether or not a federal agency under the current administration can impartially examine the actions of the oil industry.

While there are some sustainability initiatives locally, such as the new dorm being built at UH Manoa, the lack of statewide sustainability planning is disturbing. With aging infrastructure and frequent emergency fixes, Hawai'i needs to consider the impacts of increased tourism and large scale building. We need to look at sustainability on a national level and tailor solutions to meet each state's needs. I would like to ensure that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is fully funded and able to expand sustainability efforts.

No, I absolutely oppose federal policies that would open wilderness areas to commercial uses such as drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). There are many reasons to continue to protect ANWR. Not only is this an important breeding ground and migratory route for many birds and animals, it provides sustenance for some of the native people living in the area. The amount of oil that could be derived from the disruption to this unique ecosystem will do nothing towards providing a real solution to America's dependence on foreign oil. Instead of investing in ways to destroy the environment, we should be investing in environmentally friendly, renewable energy sources. If the current Administration put sufficient resources into researching renewables, the U.S. could reap true long-term benefits instead of implementing a band-aid solution.

Yes, this administration's policies have been disastrous for environmental protections. First, we need to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and demonstrate that we are willing to work with the international community to address global warming. Second, we must take the approximately 60 billion dollars in annual subsidies for the oil industry and provide incentives to renewable energy producers. Third, we must make sure that public lands are not used as resources for mining, timber cultivation, and other commercial enterprises. Finally, we must protect ANWR.

I believe that military expansion in Hawai'i needs to be examined within the context of our unique environment and culture. Given our precious resources and already strained infrastructure giving the military carte blanche makes no sense. Most military expansion ends up using land considered culturally significant to Native Hawaiians. Although the military is an important economic driver in Hawai'i, we need to think about the future generations and the impacts these decisions will have on them.

Absolutely, I believe this is the one clear way to achieve reductions in the full set of polluting emissions that contribute to global warming. We need to increase the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and biomass. We also need to develop innovative advanced technologies for motors, lighting systems, and appliances that use energy more efficiently. As a state that is 93 percent dependant on oil, Hawai'i should be at the forefront of these initiatives.

The war in Iraq has been a diplomatic, strategic, financial and moral fiasco. While our military men and women have served valiantly and with honor, they have been poorly served by civilian leadership. Hawai'i's own General Eric Shinseki of Kauai paid the career price of speaking truth to power. Only now are other generals - mostly retired -- speaking out about the reservations they had before this bungled war began.

Representative John Murtha, a Democrat but a conservative with strong ties to the U.S. military, has a plan that will not abandon our responsibilities to Iraq (we "broke" it so we can not abandon trying to "fix" it) but will get U.S. troops out of the line of fire and force the Iraqis to govern themselves, as only they can avoid a civil war and create a new country.

We cannot overwhelm the terrorists with military might - we must overwhelm them economically, diplomatically, and with the strategic deployment of our military assets. We must re-start the robust diplomacy that characterized the last fifty years of foreign policy, under democrats and republicans. Only through diplomacy can we have the international cooperation necessary to undermine the terrorists, not only through force, but by reducing their ability to recruit new young men and women.

The belief of those in the continental states that anyone who lives in Hawai'i is Hawaiian needs to be dispelled. I believe that there is a steep education curve in Washington and that if any federal recognition bill is going to be passed lawmakers need to understand who can be considered Hawaiian. I would like to work with the Native Hawaiian population and organizations to determine how to accomplish this. Without this education, I don't think a bill like the Akaka bill will find support.

Absolutely. I believe that without recognition individuals who do not understand Native Hawaiian history will continue to attack Hawaiian programs. This is not only about the practical question of protecting revenue streams, but about recognizing that there were an aboriginal people in Hawai'i, and a nation in Hawai'i that preceded America. It is fundamental to keeping Hawai'i from becoming just like any other state.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a disastrous law. First, it is sorely under-funded. Democrats in Congress recently estimated that NCLB has been shortchanged by $40 billion in the last four years. We must provide adequate funds for this or any education initiative. Second, we must change the way we define school "success." By imposing arbitrary and unrealistic standards, NCLB makes it nearly impossible for a public school system to be considered successful. Under NCLB, if a school does not meet the requirements of adequate yearly progress in any statistical subcategory, then the whole school is deemed a failure and the Federal government can take over the school. This program is deeply flawed - it is passing schools that should be failing and failing schools that should be passing. We need to measure the right things, measure them fairly, and eliminate the takeover process to keep local education under local control.

As a consequence of NCLB, we have lost sight of what matters in school. Teachers and administrators have become preoccupied with complying with mandates - and "teaching to the test" -- but we have forgotten about learning. True education reform does not need elaborate statistics and harsh mandates. Recruit good teachers, train and pay them well, give them the resources, and equip their classrooms - then let them teach.

It's fine for the federal government to be involved in setting standards for public education, but on two conditions. First, it has to be fully funded, and second, it must be sufficiently flexible to reflect the unique needs of our citizens.

The fundamental question here is not how you feel about monitoring terrorists -- which we all support, if done legally -- or even if you are personally concerned about being spied on. The real issue is whether the President of the United States is above the law. The president says "Trust me." But in the lifetime of many of us, we have seen presidents secretly break national laws for their own purpose. And this administration, which went to war on false pretenses, bungled the Katrina response, keeps Americans and foreigners in prison for years with no charges or even outside contact, uses torture but calls it by other names - all this in addition to illegally wiretapping Americans - has not earned our trust.

There is an adequate, perfectly legal mechanism available to the president and security agencies to listen in on suspected terrorists. It is called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (or FISA) passed by Congress in 1978. Under FISA, carefully selected Federal judges who make up the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court grant surveillance warrants and have done so thousands of times in the past. In an emergency, security agencies can start tapping a phone and receive permission from the court as late as three days later.

George Ariyoshi

Never underestimate anyone

Hawai'i's natural environment, and my son, Tyler

The Daily Show

The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman

Hiking, basketball, surfing, and going to the park with Tyler and Linda.