HAWAI’I ISLAND, Hawaii (KHON2) — Kimo Alameda, the newly sworn-in mayor of the Big Island, is calling for a renewed focus on the community, committing himself to be a public servant above all.
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“I’ve had a lot of accolades in the past, and I’m not looking for any acknowledgment at this time in my life. I just want to give back.”
Alameda ran on a platform dubbed “Live, Work, Play,” which focuses on enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Hawaii County has a new mayor
Housing is a primary concern for the new mayor.
“When you look at your monthly expenses, the biggest expenses are mortgage or rent,” he said.
To address the rising cost of living, Alameda aims to encourage homeownership, noting that “if you’re renting your whole life, you’re not thriving, you’re just surviving.”
The mayor also intends to tackle the island’s homelessness crisis by bolstering mental health and addiction services, which he sees as essential to addressing the root causes of homelessness.
In addition to housing, Alameda is committed to strengthening the island’s economy.
One of his key goals is to support county employees.
“We want to maintain and retain the county workers that we have, but we also want to recruit. There’s a lot of vacancies, and I think my energy and work ethic, people are attracted to that,” Alameda shared.
He plans to create new job opportunities by focusing on industries that align with Hawaii’s culture, such as volcanology, oceanography and alternative energy.
“We want to zero in on those industries that help perpetuate the culture of Hawaii,” he added.
Alameda’s third pillar, “Play,” revolves around improving recreational spaces and opportunities for residents.
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As an avid recreation enthusiast, he is determined to upgrade the island’s parks, beaches, fields, and gyms. “Every time I see a gym that’s not occupied, to me, it’s a tragedy,” he said.
Plans include an inventory of existing parks and the addition of new facilities like pickleball courts to serve the growing demand for recreational spaces.