How Green Is Aiona? We'll Find Out Next Week

Chad Blair/Civil Beat

One candidate for governor is willing to tell — and perhaps show — Civil Beat's members his personal sustainability practices.

Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie provided a written statement responding to some of our questions, but declined to invite us to his home. Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann also said, no, but wouldn't even answer any of our questions.

Only Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the presumptive Republican nominee for the state's top job, has agreed to sit down with Civil Beat. The meeting, not yet scheduled for a particular date or time, will occur at Aiona's campaign headquarters on Nimitz Highway next week, his campaign confirmed Wednesday.

Spokesman Travis Taylor said he received approval from Aiona to set up an in-person meeting at which Aiona will talk about his personal efforts to reduce his footprint. Taylor said he's going to try to get us some answers before we sit down. Aiona may provide photos and has not "closed off" the possibility of showing clean energy improvements and other such sustainability-boosting measures at his home, Taylor said.