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Politics, Commentary, Community
Politics, Commentary, Community Thursday
20Mar
Pilago: No separate West Hawaii
Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 07:40AM 
Hawaii County Councilman and candidate for mayor Angel Pilago emphasized his leadership, experience and values, invoking his Vietnam War experience and successful efforts on behalf of the environment and Native Hawaiian issues at a campaign gathering in Keaau Thursday night.
< Kona Councilman Angel Pilago, right, greets Puna Democratic Party Chairman Steve Sparks Thursday night in Keaau
And after his speech, Pilago strongly repudiated the idea of splitting Hawaii Island into two governments – East and West.
Pilago is the only candidate for mayor from West Hawaii and I've speculated here in the past that he could forge a winning strategy island-wide by combining the West Hawaii separatists with his strong environmental appeal. But it looks like he'll only have the strong environmental appeal.
Pilago has been a forceful and effective for West Hawaii as a Council member and said he could the same things for the rest of the island. However he was decidedly weak on specific knowledge about Puna and how he might address the multitude of problems facing the Fifth District.
Pilago could only mention traffic as far as his knowledge of Puna issues goes, and said he would rely on the Puna Community Development Plan for guidance. And in expressing his view that the problems in Puna are the same as the problems in Kona and elsewhere on the island, I don’t think he demonstrated a good grasp of what’s happening -- or not happening -- in the state’s fastest-growing district.
Pilago said his effort to create equal government representation in West Hawaii with the establishment of a West Hawaii planning commission and the building of a West Hawaii Civic center were not the lead-in to separate government for West Hawaii, but are the means to strengthen and preserve the single-island government already in place.
What does Pilago tell his West Hawaii constituents who badger him to advocate for West Hawaii separation? “I say no,” he said.
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Reader Comments (5)
Weatherford betta geev da bruddah some insight.
Angel has received my 'insight', as you put it, re incineration. You are right in the insinuation that my support will only go to a candidate that opposes incineration.
We shall see how matters proceed.
James
Angel, as can be expected of any candidate, will do what he reckons should be done. So will I and every other voter.
That's the way it works.
From what I know of some of the candidates I would expect them to dodge the issue until its clear what side is 'safe' to be on and then jump.
Really don't think that is what Angel will do.
..."incineration as a component of a larger solid waste policy" is the line that Pete Hoffmann has been pushing in the last few weeks. So, maybe Pete has been working on Angel. That happens, too.
Of course, as Hunter pointed out, there is an inherent conflict between incineration and recycling. So, the 'have-it-both-ways' approach will not work any more than wait-and-ride-the-wave..
I was a supporter of Mr. Pilago until he said he thought the "nothing burger" they keep serving the people of the west side was sufficient. I guess I will have to vote for another.