Neil Abercrombie in 2014 Hawaii Governor's race

On Education: Improving public education is one of my top priorities

ABERCROMBIE: Our students' test scores are up for fourth- and eighth-graders. We have more graduates going to college. The school system is improving and the work of our administrators, educators and students is undeniable. The process of listening, fine-tuning and improving the system is based not only on data and evidence but also feedback from teachers and principals on the front line. I am confident that the Board of Education, superintendent, and her team can and will continue to make it even better by refining the process and moving forward for the benefit of Hawaii's children.

IGE: Our "top-down" bureaucracy should be reorganized so that the system supports our schools, rather than the other way around. To move from a compliance-driven bureaucracy, as governor I will increase funds and opportunities to support school-initiated, innovative approaches to education.

On Energy & Oil: Liquefied natural gas is a "bridge fuel" to renewables

ABERCROMBIE: I see LNG as a "bridge fuel" to wean ourselves off of imported oil as we pivot to more renewable energy use. One of the most critical challenges of in

On Environment: 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.

On Jobs: Put money back into state Employer-Union Trust Fund

IGE: Last year Hawaii became the first state in the country to enact a plan for handling unfunded liabilities for the State Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

ABERCROMBIE: The Employer-Union Trust Fund (EUTF) has never been prefunded until my administration came into office. With our financial turnaround of the state's finances, we've started to put money back into the EUTF to address its unfunded liabilities. Working with the Legislature, we passed Act 268 in 2013 to statutorily establish an annual required contribution. Hawaii was one of the first states to really address the unfunded liability for Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB).

On Jobs: 2-year agreement with Legislature to raise the minimum wage

ABERCROMBIE: We must acknowledge that living in the middle of the Pacific comes at a cost. After two years of lobbying the Legislature, I am pleased that we have finally come to an agreement to raise the minimum wage. Raising the purchasing power of our residents through higher incomes not only benefits our citizens directly, it also helps to stimulate our economy.

IGE: We must build homes that Hawaii's working families can afford--not luxury condominiums for out-of-state speculators. With average new home prices approaching $700,000, there needs to be leadership to increase the supply of housing at all price points while protecting Hawaii's natural beauty. The construction of the Honolulu rail system provides the opportunity for Transit Oriented Development incorporating housing along its 21-mile route.

On Welfare & Poverty: Keep sidewalks open & clear; homeless into housing for good

IGE: Multiple causes of homelessness require multiple solutions: increase the supply of low-cost rental housing for families at risk by increasing funds to the Rental Housing Trust Fund; support the Housing First initiative for emergency housing; and support our State homeless shelters.

ABERCROMBIE: Our administration recognized that if we're going to make progress on homelessness, we'd have to work collaboratively. That's why we established the first-ever statewide homeless coordinator. Just this year, we enacted two laws that will keep sidewalks open and clean, the first step to taking our streets back. Together with the City of Honolulu, we are also working to advance the Housing First program. This program has been adopted in areas across the country with great success. It focuses on getting homeless into housing units as a first step so they can receive the necessary services and care they need to get off the streets for good.

On Principles & Values: I made best decision appointing Schatz instead of Hanabusa

"Many have said after so many years of dedicated service to the people of Hawaii, how can a simple request be ignored?" asked Ige.

"It only makes sense that for him to say what he would like to see done, but in the end he realized and indicated directly to me that as governor, I had to make the best decision," said Abercrombie.

On Free Trade: Allow foreign ships to unload in Hawaii en route to US

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.