Currently holds the office of Hawaii County Council - District 4 until December 31, 2024.
Candidate for Hawaii County Council - District 4 in 2024 Hawaii General Election.
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Get StartedThe safety and wellbeing of our community is paramount. Along with helping to secure more police officers for the district, Ashley is an active participant in Puna Neighborhood Watch meetings. She is leading work to address vacant, abandoned, and deteriorating properties throughout Puna. Learn more
It's impossible to arrest our way out of problems. We need to ramp up our multi-pronged approach of education, treatment and prevention. Ashley is working in partnership with the Prosecutor's Office to design and implement a program that prevents crime among youth, diverts non-violent petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor offenses from jail and provides for personal/professional development, and helps individuals successfully reintegrate back into society. Learn more
Puerto Rico could be us. Hawai‘i Island is especially vulnerable to hurricanes because of its location. What recent lava events have shown us is that we must rely on ourselves. Preparedness must be part of our lifestyle. Government needs to empower community with timely, appropriate information, and partner with business and nonprofits to increase individual/family readiness. Learn more
In response to vicious dog attacks that led to the passing of a kupuna and life altering injuries to a young child, Ashley introduced a County ordinance to increase justice and accountability by directing active removal of the animal and prescribing criminal penalties in the event of a dog attack resulting in injury or death. Ashley is working with key stakeholders to review and strengthen leash law language in the County code. Learn more
Education is a great equalizer. Ashley is working with Hawai‘i Community College to increase their presence in the district. By removing barriers and making it easier for folks to access the knowledge and skills, residents can achieve and take their lives to the next level. Learn more
Albizia is a death sentence to our native trees. We saw the devastation albizia caused to Puna and Ka‘ū during Tropical Storm Iselle. Former Council Member Zendo Kern introduced a bill on accountability, to compel property owners to take action. Ideally, we need to deal with albizia with a machete before it grows larger and we need to handle it with a D9. Ashley is working with the Big Island Invasive Species Council to reconvene key stakeholders (County, State, utilities) to update the 2015 Albizia Management Plan to track progress made, identify new priority areas to treat, create a timeline for action, and secure funding to support plan implementation. Learn more
We all want to spend more time with our loved ones, pursuing our passions and enjoying this beautiful place we call home. We need more jobs, attainable housing, support services, and recreation spaces close to home. Learn more
Let's be real: lots of folks who live in Puna commute to the west side or Hilo town for work (I'm one of them). As a rapidly growing district, our roadways are becoming even more congested. State DOT's contraflow on Highway 130 is helpful and helps alleviate congestion; but more is needed. We need thoughtful, creative solutions to address traffic in the long-term including widening of Highway 130 and additional routes mauka and makai of the highway. Learn more
Hawai‘i Island has enough land to grow food to sustain our population. However, we need critical infrastructure and to merge agriculture with renewable energy and technology to make growing our own food cost effective and efficient. Learn more
Improving public transportation is key to connecting more people to services and opportunities. Ashley has advocated for acquisition of more buses and expanded service throughout the district, as well as a consistent ride schedule and on-time arrivals. She is supporting efforts to identify sites and design a site in Puna that co-locates a bus hub and public library, two critical services that connect residents with resources. Learn more
View your personalized ballot, check your voter registration, make a plan to vote, and research every name and measure on the ballot with BallotReady.