POLICIES, LEGISLATION, AND ACTION
We maximize existing processes to accomplish big goals
If we want government and private sector leaders to do the right thing for Hawai`i, we need to align private incentives, public policy and maximize the legislative process.and legal processes in place. By resolving agency roadblocks, we can turn ideas into reality. By developing sound community policy, we help protect locals from the perils of traffic congestion, construction, over-development and social threats, including bullying and invasive animal species. By designing and guiding legislative action, we mitigate the impacts of growth, animal cruelty, air and water pollution, for example. With a full understanding of complex processes—such as the Environmental Review Process — `Āina Aloha Consulting exposes potential negative outcomes and positively influences local projects for the benefit of business, people and the environment.
As a legislator, Jessica authored many bills that became law, such as laws to empower the community and prevent evictions in Kahana Valley, prevent and punish animal cruelty, increase local food production, protect first responders on roadways, criminalize cyberbullying, promote the growing of kalo statewide, protect homestead leases for Native Hawaiian families and create incentives to prevent and address hazardous rocks and trees on private property, for example. As Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, Jessica addressed many big picture, long-standing challenges as well, promoting the Aloha Plus Challenge, growing hemp in Hawai`i, helping farmers with the costs of feed, requiring transparency around the use of pesticides and attempting to address conflict over the labeling of GMO food products.
Jessica served on a variety of committees, including the Finance Committee during the Great Recession, where she learned firsthand the ins and outs of the state budget. Her Economics background came in handy as she helped identify how to increase revenue, allocate scarce resources and identify cost-saving efficiencies.
As the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, she was also given the opportunity to see how the Executive branch functions – and sometimes doesnʻt. She managed the budget and staff, initiated efforts to educate the public, provide accessible information and promote agency compliance. Jessica also served as an ex officio member of the Plant Pest Advisory Committee for the Department of Agriculture and the Hawai`i Environmental Council. While serving as director, Jessica brought together key leaders in the State to identify environmental priorities and set goals for the year, including preparing for the World Conservation Conference. She helped put together the Annual report for 2014, bringing in a team of volunteers to not only report on the state of the environment in Hawai`i, but to identify meaningful solutions.
ORGANIZING COMMUNITY & PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS
We build powerful movements through education and coalition-building.
If we want our legislators and local leaders to act in our interest, we need to educate them about our desires. By building coalitions among local interest groups, like communities and non-profit organizations, we can create powerful movements to turn influence into action, create compromise that eliminates opposition and inspire legislators to turn bills into laws. Using digital information to broadly educate the local public, we build awareness and energy around what matters, so we can influence what gets done.
Jessica has worked for, served on boards and volunteered for myriad non-profit organizations, including the Kane`ohe Cultural Foundation, Kāne`ohe Canoe Club, Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i, Hawai`i Farmers Union United, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (now Earthjustice), Oʻahu Land Trust, One Voice for Livable Islands, Life of the Land, US Humane Society, Hawaiian Humane Society and the Hawai`i Bicycling League.
Mochi pounding day – Kahalu’u community
COOPERATIVE STRATEGIES FOR COMPETING INTERESTS
We create and negotiate compromises for complex concerns
Creative solutions between parties with misaligned interests require three things: information, understanding, and reasonable compromise. Through services such as grant-writing, negotiations, gaining legal access to government information, general planning, research to expose corruption and bad actors and the development of innovative strategies and tactics, we bridge the gap between big interests and local concerns, for success on every side. More infor here….
Jessica is a strategic and critical thinker; persistent and unafraid of tough challenges. She has; broad-based policy, agency, legal, managerial and state legislative experience. Most important, she values; value people, good relationships and clear communication.
Jessica provides strategic legal, policy lobbying and advocacy expertise to resolve business, economic/social/environmental justice, housing, transportation, agricultural and environmental challenges. She can write the plans, put together teams, identify and implement key strategies and campaigns, help pass legislation or work through an administrative process, organizes and manages staff, volunteers and large groups.
As an attorney with a BA in Economics and MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Jessica understands both the complexities of the market and the possibilities of the legal system. As a former Hawaii state legislator, deputy attorney general, Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, and Advocacy Director for AARP, she understands how to navigate the legislative system and lead and enact enduring and systemic change. And as a passionate advocate for local people, animals, land, water and unique environments of Hawai`i, she’s committed to doing what it takes to preserve what really matters.
`Āina Aloha is different because we understand the connections between issues, people and government and we’re perfectly poised to build the kind of alliances that make the most uncommon interests align.
PROVEN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Authorized many bills that became law including laws for:
- Prevent evictions in Kahana Valley’
- Protect Homestead Leases for native Hawaiians’
- Promote kalo lo’i restoration for flood control
- Protect first responders on roadways
- Criminalize cyberbullying
- Strengthen intentional animal cruelty penalties
- Promote local food reduction efforts’
- Create hazard management tools and policy to address hazardous trees and rocks
PUBLIC LEADERSHIPS
- House Chair, Committee on Agriculture
- House Chair, Committee on Culture and the Arts
- Vice-Chair, Committee on Agriculture
- Member, House Finance Committee
NON PROFIT LEADERSHIPS
- Hawaii Farmer’s Union Policy Chair
- O`ahu Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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Hamakua Group, board member
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Kaneohe Cultural Foundation, board member