Page 16 - MidWeek - June 22, 2022

16 MIDWEEK JUNE 22, 2022
The Mom Who Hopes To Lead The Pack
FROM PAGE 13
on the neighbor islands. And making sure that independent physicians and larger health care systems receive the sup- port they need to serve our residents will be a priority.
hurt and frustration.
“I’m committed to coming
entrepreneur at heart, knows a thing or two about evok- ing positive transformation. She formed her own tourism agency as a young woman, sold it, and moved to the 50th state and, ever the for- ward-thinker, started United Laundry Services in 1987. For the past 34 years, she’s been at the helm, growing the startup with 25 employees into the state’s largest laun- dry company. She’s since left the post to start her guberna- torial campaign, believing that public servants, especial- ly those at the highest level, should be fully vested in the position they’re seeking.
Keeping in line with a holistic view of change, her ideas for a thriving Hawai‘i are many. She believes that the state can expand indus- tries like film and digital me- dia, information technology, cybersecurity, health care, veterinary medicine, animal welfare, the arts, music and so much more.
up with solutions — not just for another committee to an- alyze it for the next four years — I want to get things done, no ifs, ands or buts about it. We are going to move for- ward with action because there is no time to waste.”
“My father used to say that just as you need food for the body, you need music for the soul,” recalls Cayetano, who comes from a musical fam- ily that includes older sister Ginny Tiu, a world-renowned pianist. “Just imagine when you hear music what it does to you; it calms or energizes you. It has a very significant impact on how you feel.”
In addition to seven dogs of her own and two of their canine friends (above right), Vicky Cayetano’s abode is also home to two turtles (above left), who enjoy the outdoor pond she created for them. PHOTOS COURTESY VICKY CAYETANO
(Above left and right) Vicky Cayetano’s four grandchildren are regulars at her Honolulu home, where they enjoy reading and spending time outdoors.
Action, however, is only one part of the equation, and Cayetano balances a go-get- ter attitude with natural em- pathy. It’s this best-of-both- worlds approach that allows her to accomplish so much in areas of greatest importance.
The same goes for arts of all mediums, and Cayetano places high importance on cultivating Native Hawaiian and indigenous art and artists.
role to play in dealing with the abundant feral cat com- munity and supporting the Humane Society network. The way a human being treats animals is one indication of how they might relate to oth- er people. The least among us deserve our respect and care.”
creatively, think outside of the box than what we’ve been doing for the past 50 years. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but these are differ- ent times now and we need to move forward.”
land, where more opportuni- ties are available to support his growing family.
And it isn’t just about solving the most pressing problems. Those are merely first steps. Instead, Cayetano envisions a Hawai‘i where residents not only survive but also thrive. To do that, the aloha state needs a new kind of leadership, and one that Cayetano is confident she can provide.
“The arts are a very im- portant part of our creative world, not just in the arena of education and entertain-
Issues like affordable housing, cost of living and homelessness have plagued the state for decades with no resolution. Promises have been made since statehood but not delivered. This lack of change has led to an in- crease of people leaving their island home and families in search of more fiscally ac- commodating places. And, for Cayetano, this mass mi- gration away from Hawai‘i hits particularly close to home. Just recently, her son William moved to the main-
“A lot of people experi- ence this,” Cayetano notes. “But it doesn’t have to be that way. If the young people are the future of Hawai‘i, and if they’ re leaving the state, what kind of future can we hope to have?
If elected, she’ll be the first to enter the position since statehood who isn’t an attor- ney or lifetime politician.
Cayetano is no stranger to practicing what she preach- es, so when she says she has plans to get things done, it’s prudent to take her at her word.
ny ment but also in the area of p- business,” Cayetano notes. rds “Those who are creative can t’s bring that line of thinking uld into how they look at busi- cal ness, and this is another in- novative way of solving our
She envisions a Hawai‘i in which dogs are more wel- come in the community — with proper guidelines, of course. While this is a little self-serving (she’s “mom” to seven dogs and two turtles), she also sees huge emotional benefits for the tens of thou- sands of dog owners across the state.
“We are at a very critical time where our economy and children are impacted, and I don’t think people talk enough about that,” she says.
“That’s not to say law or politics is bad, but what it does mean is that you have a very different mindset,” she notes. “As attorneys, and my husband is an attorney, they’re very risk averse. They look at all the things that will go wrong. When you have that mindset, you can’t create a new world that we desper- ately need.”
“No more talk; we need action and resolution. I will do everything that’s needed to finally deliver the results that the people of Hawai‘i deserve,” she says.
ost issues.”
to Close to her heart is her
It’s why she welcomes any and all feedback. In fact, one of her favorite parts about the campaign so far is being able to listen to people from all walks of life, who imme- diately take to her caring na- ture and pour out their pain,
Visit vickyforgovernor. com for more information.
me abundant love for animals ss- of all kind. While she prefers in- dogs to cats as house-pets,
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she also believes that all ani- iti- mals deserve support, and not lly just from the counties alone. “The state also could have a
“Why can’t we do things like that?” she muses. “We have to be able to think more
Change, therefore, requires innovation, and Cayetano, an
“It’s extremely critical at this time to recognize that we’re at a tipping point,” she notes. “I believe it’s time for leadership with a new mind- set and set of skills that pro- duce results.”
“I know in my business, I would expect nothing less than to be 110% into the posi- tion,” she shares. “And that’s what I’ m doing, just even in campaigning. I have already left the business I love that I’ ve worked at for so long. There can be no compromise in commitment and dedica- tion, unlike my opponents, who think otherwise, I know that being governor is a full- time job.”
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