Page 13 - MidWeek - June 22, 2022

MIDWEEK COVER STORY
JUNE 22, 2022 MIDWEEK 13
For decades, Vicky Cay- etano has lived a life of public service, even though she’s never held a civ- ic job in her life. While most know her for her successful business ventures, many more are familiar with her commu- nity work in areas like the fair adjustment of unemployment taxes, advocating for animal rights and helping create Ha- wai‘i Symphony Orchestra after Honolulu Symphony went bankrupt. And for the woman who’s been named
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Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i’s 2000 Woman of the Year, one of YWCA O‘ahu’s 2011 Women of Achievement, and a University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Travel In- dustry Management Legacy in Tourism award recipient, among others, the next step to give back to her island home is a big one — and she’s ready to take on the challenge as a Democratic candidate for Ha- wai‘i governor.
primaries, she’ ll continue to the general election Nov. 8.
people deserve, and no less than that.”
thrive,” says Cayetano, who is mom to Marissa and Wil- liam, step-mom to Brandon, Janeen and Samantha, and a grandmother of four.
industries there aren’t many — as well as educational op- portunities the state affords its residents. But, again, that’s only a glimpse of what would make Hawai‘i a place local residents can flourish.
If chosen as the top con- tender following the Aug. 13
“I expect people to thrive, not just survive,” she says. “That’s the kind of state our
“At the heart of everything I’m doing is to have a Hawai‘i for our young people, who are our future, where they can
As Cayetano sees it, the re- quirement of making housing affordable barely scratches the surface. Also of impor- tance are the jobs available for residents — outside of the service and hospitality
Health care is also criti- cally important, especially SEE PAGE 16
MidWeek staff
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Vicky Cayetano exudes this characteristic in her run to become Hawai‘i’s next governor.
PHOTOS BY Lawrence Tabudlo
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Cayeta- no is already proving to be a different kind of leader, one who combines decisive action and innovation with empathy and a family-first focus. She wants for Hawai‘i what she’d want for her own ‘ohana — a home in which they can prosper.
For Cayetano, she plans on doing things the same way she lives her life: trans- parency in decision-making, accountability for the deci- sion-maker and an urgen- cy to get things done. With those three pillars in place, the 66-year-old is ready to hit the ground running.
This means looking at is- sues holistically, with the understanding that it’s all in- terconnected.
“We’re talking about cost of living, but who wants to live in a Hawai‘i where crime keeps escalating or homeless- ness takes over?” she contin- ues.