Vote JoNelle | Candidate for Hawaiʻi County Council Hilo District 2
Restoring trust with responsible leadership and real accountability.
Introduction
Let’s Bring Hilo Home
I’m not a career politician — I’m a working woman, a community volunteer, and a parent. And I’m tired of watching our talent leave on a one-way ticket. We need to shift our approach from surviving to thriving by demanding receipts for our taxes and a sustainable future for our keiki. Let’s bring Hilo home.
Priorities & Solutions
The ʻOhana-First Strategy
Our families are being priced out of the place they call home. We’re working, yet too many of our young families are leaving because they can’t afford to stay—shrinking our schools, our workforce, and our future.
At the same time, billions of dollars leave our island each year for food and energy we could be producing right here. That’s money (and opportunity) we should be keeping in our community.
I’m a working woman who sees the gaps in our system every day. I’m running to strengthen Hilo by investing in local solutions, supporting working families, and building an economy that lets our children stay here and thrive.
We have the tools, we just need the will. Let’s get to work.
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Hilo’s economy has remained largely stagnant, with limited new industry growth and few clear career pipelines for our young people. We need to build a strong private-sector foundation that creates sustainable, high-wage jobs.
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Downtown Hilo is facing visible decline, aging buildings, repeated fires, unsafe conditions, high rents from neglected properties, and inconsistent enforcement that discourages responsible investment. I will work to enforce safety standards consistently, addressing blight responsibly, supporting small businesses, and ensuring public spaces are managed with compassion and accountability.
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The County has strategic roadmaps, yet many initiatives move slowly or remain underutilized. Entrepreneurs often face confusing permit processes, long delays, and no clear point of contact to help move projects forward. I will prioritize operational reform, clearer permitting pathways, defined points of contact, transparent tracking systems, and performance accountability.
Support Our Campaign
Contribute to our campaign to help build a better future for Hilo. We greatly appreciate your support.
Connect with JoNelle
Let’s Talk Story
Have a question, concern, or idea to help move our community forward? I want to hear from you. Reach out, share your thoughts, or get involved—together, we can build practical, responsible solutions that support our families, workers, and local businesses.
Want to meet in person? Join us for coffee at our office located at 140 Kinoʻole St. in Downtown Hilo. We will be open mostly on Tuesdays & Thursdays in the mornings. Please schedule time with JoNelle by reaching out, hope to see you and talk story. For email updates please join our contact list!
Please watch the 15 minute interviews of candidates in District 2 by clicking on the paperclip link below!