Creating Our Own Clean Energy

Duke Aiona is committed to realizing the promise of a clean energy future, and he will ensure we do so in an environmentally-friendly way that makes economic sense and moves our state toward greater self-sufficiency.
 

When electricity and gas prices skyrocketed last year, Hawai`i’s families got a crude reminder that we are more than 90% dependent on foreign fossil fuel, making Hawai‘i the most oil dependent state and region in America.
 

Remaining dependent on the volatile oil market threatens our environment and our energy and economic security. Fortunately, Duke Aiona has set a new course.
 

Through energy efficiency and such renewable sources as wind, solar, ocean, bioenergy and geothermal power, Duke is committed to generating 70% or more of our power from clean energy before 2030.
 

By creating more of our own clean energy, we can keep up to $5 billion circulating in our local economy, stimulating the economy and creating jobs. We can also protect our environment and draw upon the rich, renewable sources of our ‘aina to become more self-reliant and model stewards for the rest of the world.
 

Duke believes clean energy is not an option – it is a necessary part of a better future. Join Duke and sign the petition to support clean energy for Hawai‘i here.

Jobs and the Economy

As Governor, Duke Aiona's most important job will be jobs. His vision is for all of our citizens to have the opportunity to live, work and raise a family in a Hawai`i they can afford and enjoy.

To achieve this goal, he will focus on cultivating a business-friendly environment that creates job opportunities and keeps Hawai`i open for business. Government doesn't create the jobs that fuel our economy over the long term, but an Aiona Administration will make it easier for those who do.

That's why he met recently with more than 120 small business owners in 100 days. He met with economists. He met with working families. He listened to their concerns, hopes and ideas. And they helped him shape an economic action plan that will spark job growth now and build a vibrant local economy for a brighter future.

Click HERE to read Duke's POLICY AGENDA FOR JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

Keeping Our Families and Communities Safe

Protecting our citizens will be one of the most fundamental core functions of the Aiona Administration.  

Duke’s experience in the judicial system as a prosecutor and state judge has reinforced the importance of maintaining a safe and lawful environment. When individuals commit crimes, they violate the social contract that everyone else in the community abides by. Criminals not only harm their victims, but they also harm society.
 

The Aiona Administration will remain vigilant and promote the collaboration of public safety officials, first responders and communities at large to keep our citizens and visitors safe, and help ensure a safe and prosperous Hawai`i.

Hawai`i faces a wide variety of public safety issues, including preparing for and responding to natural disasters like hurricanes, tsunamis and floods; pandemic disease outbreaks like 2009 H1N1 Flu; and illicit drugs and crime that destroy our families and communities.

The Aiona Administration will lead the fight to keep our communities safe and work closely with our public safety partners to ensure they have the resources they need to protect our residents.  

Education Reform

Hawai`i's ability to provide a world-class public education system for our young people is the key to long-term prosperity and broad-based economic growth. Our families and communities are united in their support of improving education and making reform a top priority.
 
While education spending has increased more than 200 percent over the past 30 years, our students continue to rank near the bottom on national standards-based tests. That is unacceptable.
 
For Hawai`i to compete in a world continually transformed by the boundless opportunities of the 21st Century and to ensure that we develop and keep local talent and jobs, we must prepare our youth for a global economy based on knowledge and innovation. Hawai`i has some of the best teachers in the world, but without enough money going into the classroom, they don't have the resources to achieve their goals.

Click HERE to read Duke's POLICY AGENDA FOR EDUCATION REFORM. 

Strengthening Our Families

Families form the core of our society, and they are at the forefront of Duke Aiona’s efforts to improve the quality of life for all of the people of Hawai‘i.
 

Whether Duke is helping families to recover from illicit drug abuse, combat underage drinking, find loving, permanent homes for our foster children, feed the hungry or give those in need the tools they need to get back on their feet, Duke is a staunch ally of our families.
 

As a husband and parent of four children, he knows that parents want nothing more than a better life for their children.
 

He often says that it is easier to build strong children than to fix broken adults, and for the Aiona Administration, nothing will be more important than the safety and well-being of our children.
 

In difficult situations, family, faith and community are often at the heart of the welfare of our people. These factors are the most effective and ideal mechanisms for remedying many of society’s problems. 
 

Duke will put his support for our families front and center in the campaign for Governor, and his Administration will ensure they remain at the forefront of our efforts to improve life in Hawai‘i.