State of Hawaii Archives: on Homeland Security
Cam Cavasso:
Maintain military: peace through strength
Question topic: The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.
Cavasso: Strongly Agree.
Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.
Cavasso: Maintain a strong military with the ability to fully defend America at home and from foreign enemies.
We are in a dangerous world and peace can only be maintained through strength.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Brian Schatz:
Feds stretched too far in snooping on everyday Americans
Schatz confronted Hanabusa about several issues, including support for a veterans hospital in Guam he says takes focus away from Hawaii and her stances on Social Security. He also said he differed with
Hanabusa on their approach to widespread federal surveillance programs, saying he thinks the government has stretched too far in its snooping of everyday Americans.
"This is a difference between Colleen and myself," he said.
Hanabusa responded by saying Schatz was misstating votes and skipping over key details. "Brian,
you have to start to read the bills to really understand what you're talking about," she said.
Source: Associated Press in The Republic: 2014 Hawaii Senate debate
Jul 8, 2014
Brian Schatz:
Reform FISA to protect our Fourth Amendment rights
Hanabusa said Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor in Hawaii who publicly released documents on government surveillance, should return to the United
States and stand trial. "Yes, we learned a lot through what he did," she said. "But was he truly a whistleblower? Those are decisions that the court system has to determine."Schatz said "I don't think he's a hero.
But I think the main issue here is not so much what we think of Edward Snowden, but how we need to reform the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to protect our Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 8, 2014
Brian Schatz:
Military only viable here if it has community support
While Hawaii's location is important strategically and the military protects our state from threats abroad and supports our local economy, the U.S. military is only viable in our state if it has community support.
That means it has to respect the people of our state, our environment and our culture.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2022 Hawaii Senate race
Jun 22, 2022
Cam Cavasso:
High priority on strengthening our military & intelligence
Q: If you are elected, what will be your top three priorities? A: First will be to move Federal Judge Nominees being blocked by filibuster to a confirmation vote.
Second will be to vote for a Federal Marriage amendment to protect traditional marriage and the family. Third will be to strengthen our military and intelligence capability to fight terrorism effectively and defend our nation.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald Election Guide Questions
Aug 22, 2004
Cam Cavasso:
Do not reinstate the military draft
Q: Should a military draft be reinstated? A: No
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald Election Guide Questions
Aug 22, 2004
Colleen Hanabusa:
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden should stand trial in US
Hanabusa said Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor in Hawaii who publicly released documents on government surveillance, should return to the United
States and stand trial. "Yes, we learned a lot through what he did," she said. "But was he truly a whistleblower? Those are decisions that the court system has to determine."Schatz said "I don't think he's a hero.
But I think the main issue here is not so much what we think of Edward Snowden, but how we need to reform the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to protect our Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 8, 2014
Colleen Hanabusa:
Shaped National Defense Authorization Act military roadmap
Hanabusa has gained a reputation as a policy wonk and someone who dives deep into the details of legislation. Nowhere is this more evident than on the House Armed Services Committee, where Hanabusa helped shape the National Defense Authorization Act, a
complex bill that totals more than 700 pages.The NDAA, as it's commonly referred, sets the spending priorities for the U.S. military and is of critical importance to Hawaii as the state is a major hub of defense activity. In a previous interview with
Civil Beat, Hanabusa described the NDAA as the "roadmap" for the military.
She also played up its importance to the state. "Without it you can't get the money that you ultimately want to come into Hawaii," she said.
In 2014, when
Hanabusa was running for the Senate against Schatz she boasted of securing hundreds of millions of dollars for the state through the NDAA, and said in interviews that she wanted to use military spending to generate more jobs on the islands.
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2018 Hawaii gubernatorial race
Aug 7, 2018
David Ige:
Proactive and aggressive support of troops in Hawaii
We need to support our military whose courage and commitment to our nation's security keeps Hawaii and the rest of the country safe and strong. From our strategic location in the Pacific comes a responsibility that we cannot shirk.
Moreover, the military plays a significant part in our economy, spending more than $6.5 billion annually with a total economic impact of $14.7 billion. It is the second largest sector of our economy supporting more than 101,000 jobs.
Even with the Pentagon's new focus on the Pacific, there is no guarantee that we can protect the military's presence in the islands simply because of our geographic location.
We will need to be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to support our troops here. And I am prepared to do just that.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Hawaii Legislature
Jan 26, 2015
Eddie Pirkowski:
Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal
Question topic: The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.
Pirkowski: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Eddie Pirkowski:
Cutting edge defensive and offensive security
Q: Under what circumstances should America go to war?A: Follow constitutional, congressional and presidential mandates to ensure lifetime safety and security for all the families of Hawaii and this nation with both cutting edge defensive and
offensive security.
Q: What is your view of the role of the U.S. military in the islands, and would you like to see that role increased or decreased?
A: The Pacific Command and all the Armed Forces of the U.S. are vital to the integrity of
both the defense and the offense of this nation. We seek peace through strength, trust and reliability, and we must always keep our word, for in the end, it is all we all really have. It is in this spirit with our whole hearts and souls, we support all
the armed forces, allies, and their families. In this time of fast-paced technological development, we must lead as never before (e.g. hypersonic weapons, AI, defensive asset, state and nation shields).
Source: Honolulu Civil Beat on 2018 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 1, 2018
John Carroll:
Maintain our Premier national Defense Posture
When asked his top three priorities if elected, Carroll listed: - Eliminate Jones Act Restrictions on shipping to and from Hawaii.
- Legislate fee ownership of Hawaiian Homestead lands currently held in lease. Insure that all eligible Hawaiians
receive a Homestead Parcel in Fee Single Absolute.
- Maintain our Premier national Defense Posture. we must maintain the highest level affordable of National Defense to insure we do not become vulnerable in Space, in the Air or on the surface.
Source: VoteSmart 2012 Hawaii Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Kai Kahele:
Advocates avoiding military action whenever possible
As a military aviator who has flown over 100 combat sorties in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kai understands the cost of war. He will advocate to avoid military action whenever possible. As a combat veteran, he believes all countries must comply with the
Geneva Convention, even in conflict. Kai supports NATO and the reaffirmation to NATO's Article 5 provision and strongly believes that the U.S. should be a leader in the world by bringing together multinational coalitions through the United Nations.
Source: 2022 Hawaii Gubernatorial campaign website KaiKahele.com
May 12, 2022
Linda Lingle:
Don't let up on its defense spending, like pre-WWII
Lingle pressed Hirono on her vote that helped set up the so-called "fiscal cliff" scenario set to take effect in January if Congress can't reach a compromise on spending cuts and tax hikes. Lingle said Hirono shouldn't have supported cuts of $50 billion
per year to the military as part of the deal, because the cuts would have crushing effects in Hawaii given the large military presence here. "We can't do a pivot if we're cutting $50 billion" per year in defense, Lingle said.Hirono said
Congress was right to raise the debt ceiling and needs to reach sensible compromise to avoid the deep cuts planned.
Lingle compared today's times with the period between WWI and WWII to say the US shouldn't let up on its defense
spending or become more isolated.
Hirono retorted that nobody's talking about weakening national defense, but Tea Party Republicans have said the US should worry more about itself than other countries.
Source: Reuters on 2012 Hawaii Senate debate
Oct 20, 2012
Mark Takai:
Tax credits for companies that hire veterans
In the Hawaii House I have been pushing for tax credits for companies that hire veterans and worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure our local military bases remain strong. I passed an initiative to improve the education of military
children that has won national awards.I created the Hawaii Medal of Honor and established a task force to help non-profit providers get homeless vets off the streets--building a network of care to help these vets.
I helped create the Veterans Court,
which focuses exclusively on vets by bringing together state social services and the VA to help these vets adjust back into society and navigate the courts.
Our vets went to bat for us; let's go to bat for them. They are our new "greatest generation,"
so let's give them a chance to build our future. I also think it is wrong that some in Congress have proposed cutting critical services like assistance to homeless vets, suicide prevention programs and job training assistance.
Source: 2014 Hawaii House campaign website, MarkTakai.com
Nov 4, 2014
Mark Takai:
Cut defense responsibly, not across-the-board
The mindless across-the-board cuts are hurting our military installations, our veterans, our students, our most impoverished citizens and our small businesses. It is an absurdity that will continue haunting us unless we send less partisan legislators
like me with the experience in finding common ground to Washington.I will work with both sides of the aisle to develop a sensible plan to balance the budget. I will work to protect those in our society who are most vulnerable.
We must make responsible, reasonable cuts to defense spending like unchecked defense contracts for weapons and other equipment the military does not need. As a member of the military, I have the first-hand
knowledge needed to ask the right questions and push for better oversight of waste in runaway military contracts, while still protecting our military men and women and making sure they are well equipped and supported.
Source: 2014 Hawaii House campaign website, MarkTakai.com
Nov 4, 2014
Mazie Hirono:
Sensible compromise needed on $50 billion military cut
Lingle pressed Hirono on her vote that helped set up the so-called "fiscal cliff" scenario set to take effect in January if Congress can't reach a compromise on spending cuts and tax hikes. Lingle said Hirono shouldn't have supported cuts of $50 billion
per year to the military as part of the deal, because the cuts would have crushing effects in Hawaii given the large military presence here. "We can't do a pivot if we're cutting $50 billion" per year in defense, Lingle said.Hirono said Congress was
right to raise the debt ceiling and needs to reach sensible compromise to avoid the deep cuts planned but said Republicans are holding things up because they're not willing to allow taxes to go up for the wealthiest Americans. "We now have a Congress
where people are perfectly fine sending our country over the economic cliff," Hirono said. Hirono concluded that nobody's talking about weakening national defense, but the Tea Party has said the US should worry more about itself than other countries.
Source: Reuters on 2012 Hawaii Senate debate
Oct 20, 2012
Ron Curtis:
Welcomes military presence in Hawaii, vital in today's world
Given the strategic location of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, I view the presence of the U.S. military in the islands as a vital role in our national defense. I think it makes a Hawaii more secure as a state as well. I welcome the members of our
military and their families to our ohana during their tour of duty. The defense spending also contributes to the economy of our state. I think the role of the military in Hawaii is about right given the current state of world affairs.
Source: The Civil Beat on 2018 Hawaii Senate race
Jul 1, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023