2014 Hawaii Governor's race: on Environment

David Ige: Push Congress to spend more on Hawaii tourism

Tourism Action Plan:
• Increase commercial airline flights.
• Work with our Congressional team to make it easier for international travelers to visit our islands by improving the visa issuance process in China, and through customs and immigration pre-clearance for visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Korea to any of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Increase the hotel capacity and provide needed infrastructure improvements in all our counties. I will hold state departments accountable for expenditures of funds and completion of improvements.
• Work with the Hawai'i Convention Center to increase its use by more aggressively seeking corporate conferences and conventions.

David Ige: Increase funding for watersheds & against invasive species

Environment Action Plan:
• Direct the newly-created Pacific-Asia Institute for Resilience and Sustainability, which I helped enact, to mitigate risks from natural and man-made hazards, as well as to develop solutions for sustainable economic growth and adaptive plans for climate change.
• Move for implementation of Department of Health rules that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hawai'i can and must be a role model for environmental stewardship and clean energy.
• Increase funding to control the damage by invasive species through prevention, control, and outreach activities. An immediate action will be to step up the inspection of baggage and cargo for invasive species.
• Provide funding to protect Hawai'i's watersheds to ensure a continuous supply of clean drinking water for all.

Neil Abercrombie: Food labeling good, but not at expense of small businesses

ABERCROMBIE: It's about balance. I fully support consumers' right to know what's in their food. However, we must be sure that this effort meets legal and constitutional requirements and does not come at the expense of small businesses. Small retailers, distributors, and food manufacturers should not be penalized by food labeling requirements. That's why I'm working with my good friend Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin to learn from his state's experience of having passed one of the first laws in the country on this issue. I'm also looking to the federal government for guidance and leadership on this issue.

IGE: I support the right to know what is in our food, but labeling should be addressed at the federal, not the state level, so that Hawaii's farmers, retailers and consumers are not subject to additional costs.

David Ige: Right to know what is in our food, via federal labeling

A: I support the right to know what is in our food, but labeling should be addressed at the federal, not the state level, so that Hawaii's farmers, retailers and consumers are not subject to additional costs. I will urge our congressional members to support federal legislation in this area. There are no valid scientific studies that show any difference between genetically modified and naturally grown food. State enforcement is needed to properly enforce regulations on pesticide use.

David Ige: Protect Hawaii's fragile resources for future generations

A: Our state has not done enough to protect Hawaii's fragile natural and cultural resources for future generations. We can have both responsible economic growth and a healthy environment by comprehensively planning for competing land use needs. I'll continue to protect Hawaii from invasive species and irresponsible development. My goal is to find a balance between creating new housing and job opportunities while preserving our environment.

Charles Djou: Advocated for recycling and trash services on City Council