Candidate Response: Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Running for Maui County Council – Molokai Councilmember 

1. What are your priority goals for Molokai if elected? 

My priorities include continuing the work of relocating our firefighters from the Puko‘o Station to the future ‘Ualapu‘e Station, increasing the number of firefighters in Mana‘e, improving our air ambulance service, and supporting the Molokai Community Health Center. Likewise, working to ensure equitable funding for Molokai, particularly for capital improvements, equipment, and competitive grants to nonprofits and economic development opportunities.

My priorities also include promoting food sovereignty with grants, such as Farmers Microgrant and HFUU-Molokai Chapter and deer management, through partnership with the Molokai Hunting Club, keeping the county council accessible and transparent, continuing to malama our keiki with grants to support travel, Boys and Girls Club, and kupuna services through grants to Molokai Rural Health Care , and advancing our initiatives in climate action, ‘aina-back, and energy independence.  

2. How would you address the transportation issues that have frustrated Molokai residents in recent years? 

The council funded a study to understand the feasibility of the county owning a ferry to operate within the county. The study will be completed by the end of this year and the department will share the recommendations with the community and council to determine whether it makes sense to own a ferry system, and what the details would consist of.

Additionally, Mokulele has new leadership.  The new president plans to hold a community meeting next month to share their plans to improve.

I would also support initiatives by the community to have our own airline again.

3. How would you help Molokai families who are struggling with the high cost of living? 

The primary costs of living include housing, food, utilities.

As a community, I think we have been good at working together to not price gouge when selling our houses to each other, that will keep mortgages and rent lower, especially compared to Maui. I support the county’s funding to help first-time homebuyers and folks needing rental assistance. 

Thankfully, we grow, hunt, or catch a lot of our food or trade, so that helps to keep the cost of food down. Sustainable Molokai’s Mobile Market has also helped to make local food more accessible and affordable through the Da Bux program.  For imported food, it is important to keep shipping costs down.  

For utilities, I’m supporting Ho’ahu Energy Co-op Molokai to build a shared solar project to reduce the cost of electricity and the county continues to keep the cost of water at affordable rates.

4. Do you support phasing out short-term rentals on the Minatoya List — which includes Wavecrest and Ke Nani Kai on Molokai? If so, why? 

I support the Molokai Planning Commission’s recommendation to pass the mayor’s bill to phase our transient accommodation use in the apartment district.

If the properties would like to continue TVR use, the county has always had a process to change their zoning from apartment to hotel/resort zone, like Hotel Molokai.

Learn more at keanirawlinsfernandez.com.