HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The four leading candidates for Hawaii Island mayor met on Wednesday night in a forum sponsored by AARP.
The top candidates include incumbent Mitch Roth, who hopes to serve for a second term, businesswoman Breeani Kobayashi, who earned the endorsement of former Hawaii Island Mayor and Civil Defense Administrator Harry Kim, Junior Tupai and Kimo Alameda.
During the forum, Kobayashi explained she wants to "hit the ground running" within the first 100 days.
"We do not have any time to wait to hear problems and take time to figure out how we're gonna solve them," expressed Kobayashi. "We are knowing and learning about the problems right now today, and when we win, we hit the ground running with solutions in place."
For current Hawaii Island Mayor Mitch Roth, the first 100 days would be spent laying a foundation to get a Cabinet in place.
"One of the things that we've been focusing on is sustainability. That means the ability to allow our kids, your grandkids to raise their kids. Some we have a lot of projects that we kind of laid the foundation for," Roth said.
Tupai believes security and safety from the mayor's direction is exactly what the community needs.
"I believe that we need a stronger messaging from the mayor's direction as far as just to make sure the community is actually safe. They feel supported," explained Tupai.
Candidate Kimo Alameda hopes to focus on services benefiting Hawaii Island kupuna.
"I know aging and I help write the plan for your plan. It is still in effect today and I'm gonna be talking about our kupuna because you paid the ultimate price right you live this long. You deserve better and so that's what I intend to do as your mayor, those services that work really well."
Hawaii's primary election is set for August 10.