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The Argonaut is an exploration of the seemingly impossible challenges that are plaguing communities throughout America and the world today. Jason and his guests will shed light on a wide array of issues through interviews, discussions, and debates. The overall mission of the show is to elevate discourse surrounding real challenges facing communities today, while also trying to find solutions to these problems. We will dig into minutiae, question our assumptions and beliefs, and seek out expe ...
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One episode with Matt Jachowski wasn't really enough, so I invited him back to the show for another interview. The first interview we recorded, which was released as Episode 4, was actually recorded several months back, and some things have changed since then. The biggest change is that Maui's Mayor has proposed eliminating transeint vacation renta…
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In this episode I interview Matt Jachoski, Director of Data, Technology, and Innovation for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Matt was born and raised on Maui, he is reasing a family here now, and he has been the driving force behind several efforts to get displaced residents in home after the August 8th fires. These efforts include Maui…
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Welcome back to The Argonaut with Jason Economou! In this episode I reflect and expound on my recent discussion with Sterling Higa, Executive Director of Housing Hawaiʻi's Future. I dig a little deeper into factors that impact housing affordability, as well as the practical, regulatory, and social barriers that keep communities from addressing the …
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On this episode of The Argonaut with Jason Economou, we are joined by Sterling Higa, one of Hawaii's foremost advocates for attainable housing and housing policy reform. In our discussion, Sterling explains many of the key elements causing the housing crisis in Hawaii today, and shares some thoughts on how the system can be improved upon. If you wa…
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Aloha Listener, This episode is actually a couple years in the making. Back in December 2020, the Maui County Council passed Ordinance 5160, which resulted in as many as 1,400 properties getting automatically re-classified as short term rentals for property tax purposes, regardless of their actual use. The legislation was pushed through pretty quic…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode, I attempt to explain the 13 proposed charter amendments that will be on the Maui County ballot this year, and I talk about RAM's election recommendations. Though I try to be well informed and present accurate information, I must admit that I am not an expert on these charter proposals, and I highly recommend additio…
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Aloha Listener, This episode is a departure from the candidate interviews we have been focusing on lately, and instead focuses on housing policy in Maui County. In this interview I am joined by Mayor Michael Victorino, and Lori Tsuhako, Director of the Maui County Department of Housing and Human Concerns. Our conversation focuses on the history of …
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Aloha Listener, In this episode we chat with Nohe Uu-Hodgins, who is running for the Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat on the Maui County Council. Nohe is a lifelong resident of Paia, with deep roots in the Maui community. In our conversation we learn a bit more about Nohe, her motivations for running, and some practical ideas she has to improve conditions f…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode we hear from Yuki Lei Sugimura, incumbent for the Upcountry seat on the Maui County Council, who is currently seeking reelection. In this episode we discuss housing policy, economic diversification, and learn a bit more about Yuki Lei Sugimura as a person. If you enjoy this conversation, you might also like the longe…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode we hear from Councilmember Tamara Paltin, who is running for reelection to represent West Maui on the Maui County Council. In our conversation she discusses her experience on the council, her thoughts on housing policy, and her views on tourism and economic diversification. If you want to learn more about Councilmemb…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode we hear from Richard Bissen, retired 2nd Circuit Court Judge, about his campaign for Maui County Mayor. At this point you've all probably seen his signs and heard his ads, but in this interview we ask him about housing policy, economic diversification, and his thoughts on the budget process. If you want to learn more…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode I chat with Councilmember Kelly Takaya King to discuss her run for Maui County Mayor, and learn her thoughts on housing policy, economic diversification, and the budget. If you want to learn more about Kelly King and her campaign please visit her website: https://www.kellykingformaui.com/. Similarly, you can also lis…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode I sit down with Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino and discuss his run for reelection. I've had the pleasure of interviewing Mayor Victorino in the past (November 2019), but this interview is more focused on current events and the issues facing Maui County today. If you want to learn more about the Mayor and his cur…
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Aloha Listener, First and foremost, let me apologize for my personal audio in this episode. My mic malfunctioned and I didn't find out until after. Still, Mike Molina's audio is great, and he does most of the talking. By the way, in this episode I chat with Councilmember Mike Molina, who is currently running to be the next Mayor of Maui County. Fan…
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Aloha Listener, In this episode I had the pleasure of chatting with Jason ( A.K.A. Jack) Schwartz, candidate for the Kahului residency seat on the Maui County Council. Jason might be familiar because he has been a candidate for office several times in the past, and he is also the host of a popular show on Akaku called The Neutral Zone. If you want …
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Aloha Listener, In this episode, I chat with Alana Kay, candidate for Maui County Mayor. Alana was a pleasure to chat with, and she shares a lot in this interview, but to learn more about her and her policies in detail, I encourage you to visit her campaign website: www.alanakayformayor.info Mahalo for listening, and please subscribe to the podcast…
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Aloha Listener, With the primary elections right around the corner, RAM has kicked off our candidate interview process. Our first interview is with Dave DeLeon, candidate for the Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat on the Maui County Council. Dave's names is probably familiar for a few reasons: Dave was Government Affairs Director for RAM for about 10 years, h…
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Aloha Friends, This episode covers proposed legislation to phase out transient vacation rentals in the Apartment zoning districts. This legislation will be in front of the Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee on Wednesday, November 3rd, for the first time, but you can still act even after that date. I initially recorded this as a Hot Topics …
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Aloha Friends, This episode includes audio from a recent Facebook Live event that I did with Lori Tsuhako and Linda Munsell from Maui County's Department of Housing and Human Concerns regarding Maui's Emergency Rental Assistance Program. To learn more about the program, or to apply for assistance, please visit mauicounty.gov/mauirenthelp, or check …
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Aloha Friends, Recently I circulated a little essay I wrote regarding upcoming real property tax changes for Maui County, and it generated a lot of questions. In particular, folks wanted to learn more about Bill 129 and the long-term rental real property tax exemption it creates. This episode covers your questions, addresses some possible scenarios…
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Aloha Friends, Today's guest is Jeff Gilbreath, Executive Director of Hawaiian Community Assets. Jeff and his team have been tasked with creating Maui County's Affordable Housing Plan, and we want you to get involved! Please visit www.MauiHousingPlan.org to sign up for virtual community meetings, share your thoughts via the Housing Plan Survey, sig…
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Aloha Friends, I've been a fan of Deborah Caulfield Rybak's writing since I first moved to Maui and saw her articles in Maui Time, so I was excited to see that she recently started her own blog at politicsonmaui.com to continue reporting on local politics. After Deborah accidentally sent me one of her recent articles on "dark money" in the local el…
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Lately, the majority of the questions I've been getting all relate to the proposed charter amendments that will be on the Maui County ballots this election cycle. The charter amendments can get pretty complicated and there are a lot of folks trying to tell us how to vote, but not many people are explaining what the charter amendments actually are o…
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I only learned about Na Hale O Maui a couple of years ago when I took on my role as Government Affairs Director for RAM. At the time it seemed like a good program, but I honestly didn't give it much thought. Nevertheless, as I've progressed in my role at RAM and learned more about the circumstances surrounding our severe lack of affordable housing …
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Aloha Friends, Alberta de Jetley is running for Maui County Council, and I think we should all vote for her. In this episode, I have a nice long conversation with Alberta and we learn a lot about her background and what she plans on accomplishing if she wins in November. I've had the pleasure of having a few long conversations with Alberta at this …
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Aloha Friends, Today's guest is Claire Kamalu Carroll, Candidate for the Maui County Council's East Maui seat. Claire is the daughter of former Councilmember Bob Carroll, and a legitimately good candidate in her own right. I'll be honest and admit that I was already leaning toward voting for Claire Carroll early on purely based on the fact that her…
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Aloha Friends, When a candidate tells you that they are "pro-business" you generally don't expect them to spend most of the interview talking about the importance of education and community service, but that is what happens when you talk to Rick Nava. Rick is currently running to represent West Maui on the Maui County Council, and he also happens t…
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WELCOME BACK! Thanks for tuning in for the first episode of Season 2 of the RAM GAD POD! I was dragging my feet about getting the podcast up and running again, but I had no choice after Aja Eyre reminded me that I had promised her a longer interview. Aja is running against Mike Molina for the County Council's Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat, and I'm a litt…
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Aloha All, I start this episode (first 9 minutes or so) with a quick Maui County Covid-19 update, then I have an excellent interview with Lisa Teichner, Team Leader and Business Strategist at Keller Williams Realty Maui. Lisa is a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she shares a lot of great tips and insights on how to cope with this shifting m…
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Aloha All, This is my second fireside chat regarding Covid-19, and I hope it is helpful. Here are sites and links referenced in the episode: Maui County Covid-19 Information Page: https://www.mauicounty.gov/2370/COVID-19-Coronavirus-Information Link to Governor Ige’s Directives: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ETbXd6NU8AA0Fe2?format=jpg&name=large Lt. …
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Aloha All, Given how crazy the world is right now, I've decided to switch up the format a little and do a fireside chat for my 50th episode. This episode is essentially an update on the Covid-19 situation, and my attempt at providing some clarity. I make reference to a bunch of online resources in this episode, so here is a list of the links: NAR C…
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This is a solo episode! I don't want to call it a Notes from the GAD update because I take a deep dive into a couple of issues, but there isn't an interview this week. As to the issues, here are some brief notes and links in case you don't have time to listen: Maui County STRH Phase-Out Proposal: Here is the link to the Planning Department's presen…
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Aloha Friends, Don Couch and I had so much fun recording last week's podcast episode that he invited me back on his radio show on 1110 AM. This "Bonus" episode is audio from this morning's episode of On the Couch with Don Couch and Jack Gist. Our conversation primarily focused on the Planning Departments potential "phase-out" of Short Term Rental H…
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Aloha All, This is my CALL FOR ACTION special! The Planning Department is considering a "Phase-out" of LEGAL Short Term Rental Home Permits, and we think that is a bad idea based on bad arguments. The first 10 minutes of this episode gives an overview of the issue, then I have a longer discussion of the issue with my guest, Don Couch. PLEASE give t…
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Aloha All, The interview starts around the 6:30 mark if you want to skip ahead, but I lead off with a brief discussion of some draft legislation that would undo the "Minatoya Opinion." If you are a REALTOR or are involved in property management, you will want to listen to the intro. This week's interview is with Councilmember Kelly King, Chair of t…
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This episode is both an update and an interview. The Interview starts at the 6:50 mark, where I am joined by Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura, Council representative for the Upcountry residency area and Chair of the Water, Infrastructure, and Transportation Committee. Councilmember Sugimura was born and raised in Wailuku, and has been interested in …
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This episode contains both my weekly update, as well as an interview with my dear friend, Brendan O'Colmain, Insurance Agent Team Member with State Farm Insurance at Kit Okazaki's agency in Pukalani. This interview is a long one and it is packed with information on insurance. Brendan does an amazing job of answering common insurance questions in a …
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Aloha Friends, I've been a busy boy this week, so I decided I would save us all a little bit of time and release one episode instead of two. The first 14 minutes or so is a Notes from the GAD style update for January 22, 2020, immediately followed by an interview with my dear friend and colleague Amy Johnson, Professional Standards Manager for RAM.…
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We are kicking off the 2020 interviews with something special! This episode features former RAM GAD and dear friend to us all, Lawrence Carnicelli, flipping the script and sitting me down for a very long and very fun interview. In this interview I disclose far too much about my personal life, perform impersonations of my parents, discuss how I prop…
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Aloha, This is a short update. Listen if you can, or check out the key points below: Opportunity to Testify - One of my goals for the year is to inform the RAM community of more opportunities to testify on issues you may be interested in, even if RAM might not be taking a position on the issue. Increased civic engagement on the part of our members …
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Over the past few months I have been talking a lot about the County's real property tax reform efforts. Back in November, the County Council passed two bills that would have the effect of redefining and consolidating several of the property tax classifications, as well as creating a new tiered property tax system. RAM consistently opposed these bil…
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Mike Molina holds the Maui County Council seat for the Makawao-Paia-Haiku voting district, and he is the Chair of the Governance, Ethics and Transparency Committee. Aside from his current role, Mike Molina is no stranger to public service. In this interview we touched on his military experience, his time as a teacher, the ten years he previously sp…
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The Maui County Council recently passed two property tax reform bills on second and final reading. These bills create a framework for a tiered property tax system, and amend the names and definitions for some of the classifications. Though these pieces of legislation ultimately passed, public testimony clearly demonstrated a need for the Council to…
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Sorry! No interview this week, but I have a great guest lined up for next week. In the meantime, please settle for the following Notes from the GAD: Real Property Tax Reform: As you are aware, Bill 58 and Bill 59, relating to tax classifications and tiered real property tax rates, passed in the Council a few weeks back. Nevertheless, there was a lo…
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Here are the key points if you don't have time to listen. Water Shut-Down in Kula: On Thursday, December 5th, a portion of homes in the Poli Poli and Middle Roads area will have their water shut-off from approximately 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Department of Water Supply customers along these roads are encouraged to store water and adjust schedules as appropr…
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Tasha Kama is Presiding Officer Pro Tempore of the Maui County Council, and she holds the Council seat for the Kahului residency area. Writing a description for this episode is extremely difficult, because I don't want to come off as too bias, but it is no secret that I am a fan. Councilmember Kama is not the type of person that immediately comes t…
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Short update today! If you don't have time to listen, here are the highlights: Real Property Tax Reform: Bill 58 and Bill 59, relating to tax classifications and tiered real property tax rates, passed in the Council on second and final reading. Nevertheless, there was a lot of testimony that spoke to a need for more public outreach and education pr…
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This week's guest is Max Tornai, Development Director for Habitat for Humanity on Maui. I met Max at the Maui Nui Attainable Housing forum and we immediately hit it off. Habitat for Humanity is an exceptional organization, and I knew I needed to have Max as a guest to discuss some of the great work they are doing right here on Maui. In this episode…
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