State of Hawaii Archives: on Free Trade
Colleen Hanabusa:
Supports 1920 Jones Act: only US ships HI to West Coast
When large container ships leave China for the U.S., they don't stop in Hawaii to unload cargo bound for that state before continuing to Los Angeles or Seattle. Under a 93-year-old US law, the Jones Act, only US-made, US-flagged ships can deliver goods
between US ports. If a Chinese ship stopped in Hawaii to drop-off cargo, and then picked up, say, a load of Hawaiian coffee, it could not unload that coffee in another US port. Chinese-made goods to be sold in Hawaii are routinely unloaded on the West
Coast, and then loaded back onto another US ship for the 2,500 mile trip back to the island state.Passed in 1920 by isolationist lawmakers, the act was meant to protect the nation's shipping industry from foreign competition. Rep. Djou proposed an
exemption to allow some foreign vessels to carry cargo between the US & Hawaii. Djou couldn't muster support for the bill. "It went nowhere," he says. Djou lost his reelection bid to Colleen Hanabusa (D), who enthusiastically supports the Jones Act.
Source: Business Week on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Dec 12, 2013
David Ige:
Hawaii dominated world trade via entrepreneurial innovation
What sets Hawaii apart from the rest of the world is that we have the ingenuity, the determination and the heart--values from our island culture--that built this great state. Let me remind you about where we all came from: About how our great
grandparents took a far-flung, Pacific outpost and transformed it into the leading provider of sugar in the world, through innovation, new technology and hard work; and how they did the same with pine.For those old enough to have worked summers
in the cannery as teens, you may remember, like I do, the Ginaca machines that could peel and core a pineapple in seconds. That technology allowed Hawaii to completely dominate global markets and transformed the industry. We did not wait for someone to
show us how to grow and harvest sugar and pineapple better. We did it ourselves by being innovative and entrepreneurial. As we know, global competition eventually contributed to both of their demise [so Hawaii switched to tourism]
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Hawaii Legislature
Jan 23, 2017
John Carroll:
I believe in Free Trade and a balanced budget
Q: Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for job creation?A: Yes
Q: Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
A: Yes
Q: Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits?
A: Yes
Q: Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?
A: I believe in Free Trade and maintaining a balanced Federal Budget. I support the above "Yes" checks IF they are affordable and do NOT require tax increases.
Source: VoteSmart 2012 Hawaii Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
John Carroll:
America should be a leader in international commerce
Q: What should America's role in the world be?A: America should be a leader in international commerce. This can only be achieved by creating a climate where doing business in the
US makes better sense than doing business elsewhere. Eliminating restrictions such as the Jones Act, and the burdens of excessive regulation and taxation will be at the top of my list of to make this possible.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2016 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 29, 2016
Mark Takai:
Reject free trade deals that don't protect American jobs
While I would support some free trade deals, I will reject and fight against those that don't strongly protect American jobs. We cannot continue to reward big corporations with special tax breaks even as they ship jobs overseas.
I will be an ally of labor, and I will work hard to find common ground where businesses can create jobs and unions can protect workers.
Source: 2014 Hawaii House campaign website, MarkTakai.com
Nov 4, 2014
Neil Abercrombie:
Allow foreign ships to unload in Hawaii en route to US
When large container ships leave China for the U.S., they don't stop in Hawaii to unload cargo bound for that state before continuing to Los Angeles or Seattle. Under a 93-year-old US law, the Jones Act, only US-made, US-flagged ships can deliver goods
between US ports. If a Chinese ship stopped in Hawaii to drop-off cargo, and then picked up, say, a load of Hawaiian coffee, it could not unload that coffee in another US port. Chinese-made goods to be sold in Hawaii are routinely unloaded on the West
Coast, and then loaded back onto another US ship for the 2,500 mile trip back to the island state.Passed in 1920 by isolationist lawmakers, the act was meant to protect the nation's shipping industry from foreign competition. Rep. Djou proposed an
exemption to allow some foreign vessels to carry cargo between the US & Hawaii. Djou couldn't muster support for the bill. "It went nowhere," he says. Djou lost his reelection bid to Colleen Hanabusa (D), who enthusiastically supports the Jones Act.
Source: Business Week on 2014 Hawaii Governor race
Dec 12, 2013
Josh Green:
Reposition our economy to pursue global opportunities
We are the center of the Pacific linking together Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the broader United States. In the coming years, we will reposition our economy to pursue global opportunities--retooling tourism, developing green
technologies, and expanding our reach into international markets for our small businesses and our world-class professional sector. We are working on new plans to increase the export of locally-made and locally-grown products with our regional partners.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Hawaii legislature
Jan 23, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023