I recently attended an informal lunchtime presentation and Q & A session with our Honolulu City & County Mayor, Mufi Hannemann.  Mayor Hannemann spoke frankly about the challenges that our fine city is facing and about the actions being taken to try and ease us through these tough times.  According to the Mayor, our Oahu and State of Hawaii economies are experiencing the impact of slowing private construction.  More damaging still is the cooling of our visitor industry - due to high fuel costs - to the point that the Mayor called the short term outlook “bleak” for this important industry.  At times like these, the Mayor stated, it’s necessary for government to provide some economic stimulus and invest heavily in the community it serves.

          Since the first priority in any community should be safety and security, both the City & County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii have made intergrated communications and operations between all its first responders a top priority.  They’ve been so successful that the FBI has named Honolulu the “Safest Big City in America”.   We seem to be well prepared for natural, man-made, and biological disasters.  That’s money well spent!

          A second priority for communities should be its infrastructure.  With a Capital Improvement Budget of over $1 billion, Mayor Hannamann has made this another of his top priorities.  As I look around our island I see repair and replacement activities everywhere.  And what about all that sewer work that’s being done?!  Yes, it’s been frustrating to drive over and around torn-up roadways, but “Save the drama for your Momma“, because the work needs to be done!

          Of course the Mayor discussed the need to develop a multi-modal transporation solution that included rail.  I’ll save that topic for a separate discussion, but I like hearing that our Mayor is networking with other city leaders from around the country and around the world to draw on their experiences and best practices on an array of topics.  He and his team also seem diligent in their efforts to leverage Federal grants to bring monies to our island home to both stimulate our economy and improve our quality of life. 

          I know this is an election year and that Mayor Hannemann is looking for a second term in office.  I was glad to have the opportunity to hear what he is doing for our neighborhoods and for our families.  I believe he is working very hard on our behalf and the City & County of Honolulu is a better place to visit and to live as a result!