hunterbishop.com

Fred BlasWhile Faye Hanohano was at the 5^th District Information Fair at Pahoa Community Center Saturday, Hawaiian Beaches community activist Fred Blas was in Hilo announcing his plan to challenge the one-term Democratic incumbent for the 4^th District State House seat in November.

Blas's announcement sets the stage for another interesting political family setup since Councilwoman Emily Naeole is Hanohano's cousin and the old saw about blood being thicker than water isn't always true.

In 2006 when Naeole was winning her seat on the Hawaii County Council, she backed Hanohano’s GOP opponent, Brian Jordan, for the state House seat from Puna. That was Naeole’s tit-for-tat play after Hanohano backed the union-endorsed incumbent Gary Safarik against Naeole in the Council race.

The cousins seem to have reconciled since then as both have made it a point to say they are working together on projects to benefit the district. But the decision of whom to support could be made more difficult for Hanohano, a former union official who gained a large amount of union support in her campaign, if unions endorse a candidate against Naeole.

Blas, meanwhile, was a successful business manager on the Mainland before retiring to the Big Island and has lived in Hawaiian Beaches for four years where he's made a reputation as a hands-on community activist. Blas organized the all-volunteer Hawaiian Beaches Action Team to tackle needed projects like building bus shelters and sprucing up Pahoa town.

"I want to help the district, that's all I want to do," Blas said by telephone Monday. "It's in dire need of help."

"I'm a leader, not just a lawn mower guy, a big mouth guy. I have experience."  Blas was in the tire business for 15 years on the Mainland and he headed the automotive service department at Sears in Costa Mesa, Calif., for 11 years.

"I want to go in this thing in a positive situation," Blas said. "Honesty and integrity. I'm not going in there trying to hurt people. I don't need the job. People have already seen what I have done. I don't lie, I don't cheat.

"I think positive, not negative. I don't want to get into dirty politics. If I don't get elected, fine, I'll just keep doing the same thing I'm doing. I can motivate people with a positive attitude."