Improving Public Safety

Makiki is a high crime area. Recently there have been a rise in events that leave our residents feeling unsafe in their own homes. The peak of the crystal methamphetamine epidemic has only made things worse. Makiki and Hawaii deserve representation that will take the hard, but necessary steps to ensure that our residents feel safe in their own homes. Tracy will crack down on crime by supporting legislation that will mandate prison terms for repeat offenders. Tracy will also work towards increasing police protection in our neighborhoods.

Traffic is also a big part of Tracy's agenda to improve public safety. The rising number of motorcycle and moped street accidents have especially affected Tracy, a former motorcycle owner. Recognizing the importance of wearing protective gear while riding, Tracy has worked with both the Legislature and the riding community on various helmet laws and hopes to develop more accountability for moped users.

Advocating for our Seniors and Healthcare

Many of Makiki residents are senior citizens. Even though, geographically, Makiki is a small area, there are four retirement homes, Arcadia, Kulana Hale, One Kalakaua, and Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. The Plaza at Punchbowl is also on Makiki's border.

We need to ensure that our seniors are getting the types of care and services that they deserve. This year, landmark legislation was passed to assist seniors and others on fixed incomes without prescription drug coverage with the rising cost of prescription drugs. Tracy played an instrumental role in developing this new law, more commonly known as Hawaii Rx Plus, and is currently its program coordinator under the Department of Human Services Director's Office.

As a Lupus patient, Tracy has also devoted a lot of time in promoting Lupus Awareness and has advocated for further research and development on this little known about, but common disease. Her recent attendance to the World Lupus Congress in New York City has broadened her knowledge and given her new ideas to increase awareness and participation within the Hawaii Lupus Foundation. Tracy looks forward to implementing some of these programs, as well as introducing and supporting legislation to increase research and foster better relationships with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Restoring Government Integrity and Improving Accountability

We refer to our elected officials as "The Honorable" and it is about time that they begin owning up to that title. We elect them to represent us, the people of Hawaii. Our representatives should be there for the right reasons, wanting to serve us, the people, not to further their own personal agenda and special interests. Representatives with true and pure intentions will result in quality legislation that makes a real difference in the quality of life here in our beautiful island state.

Along those same lines, if we entrust these people to represent us in the Legislature, they must also be held to standards of accountability. Legislators should be responsive to the people they represent, regardless of what party they belong to, or the position they hold on various issues. Every person has a voice and as an elected official it is your duty to hear them.

Education

Having gone to both public schools and private school here in Hawaii, Tracy is familiar with pros and cons of both systems. She has seen measurable improvement in her elementary school (Waialae Elementary, the first school to become a SCBM School) when it transferred control from the centralized DOE to a localized School Community Based Management. Her father, Allan Okubo, spent many years on its board while his three children attended Waialae. Despite graduating from Sacred Hearts Academy, Tracy did spend one semester at a public high school after her diagnosis with Lupus. The difference in quality and quantity of resources and teacher to student ratio was immense. Determined to receive a top-quality education in a comfortable and nurturing learning environment, Tracy made effort to get into remission so that she would be able to return to Sacred Hearts Academy in the next school year. Students and parents deserve to feel that they are able to obtain a top-quality education in a comfortable and nurturing learning environment, without having to pay the ever rising cost of private school tuitions. Our current DOE system has failed time and time again to make effective changes and allowing the current status quo to continue is un-acceptable. Our future deserves better.

Reducing the Size of Government and Balancing the State Budget

As an employee of the State Government for over 6 years, Tracy has seen firsthand, the needless, bureaucratic red tape that hinders the public from having easy access to their government. She has also seen the wasteful spending on duplicative government services. Tracy will fight to reduce the size of State Government, making public access easier, and eliminate wasteful spending on duplicative government services.

Having filed bankruptcy in her early 20's, Tracy knows firsthand how financially tough times can be. The experience has taught her to manage money much more efficiently and responsibility and today she enjoys a high credit rating and even qualifies for loans! Tracy will use this knowledge in crafting a state budget that is balanced and responsible, without wasteful government spending so that Hawaii may begin to enjoy better financial ratings as well.