Jennifer Kagiwada

Infrastructure / Transportation As your Council Member, I continue to be persistent and tenacious in funding and implementing infrastructure projects in Hilo and Hawaiʻi Island. Environment / Energy We were awarded a 1.6m Federal grant to develop a reusable foodware program for restaurants in Hilo which will save our overtaxed landfill and create jobs in Hilo. Housing Hawaiʻi County needs more affordable and attainable housing options-from starter homes for first-time buyers to low income housing for working families to low-income, supportive housing for those who need support getting off the street. Environment / Energy We were awarded 2m from the Federal government and are currently seeking a 2m match to create a community-based Hilo Bay Watershed Plan and clean up Hilo Bay. Wages / Job Benefits Anyone working a full-time job should be able to afford life’s necessities: a roof over their head, reliable transportation, healthy food to eat, medical care and a safe and nurturing place for their children to learn and thrive. We can make this a reality by advocating for living wages, good benefits and providing necessary social services like good public transportation and support for child care. Economy People talk about the need to create new industries on our island but Hawaiʻi County needs to find ways to make existing jobs, better jobs. We have a huge need to fill critical positions in our community; we need doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, buiding inspectors, contractors, maintenance workers, bus drivers, etc.