Aloha!
Over the years, you and I have worked together on a range of mutual concerns including potholes, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, unsafe sidewalks, speed enforcement, and homeless encampments in our district. I heard your concerns, engaged in heartfelt and robust discussions on how our community could be better and worked hard to make that happen.
Recovery from the coronavirus pandemic will require strong and consistent leadership. Now more than ever, at every level of government, we need real leadership. More than just talking about the problems, we need leaders who can roll up their sleeves and get things done.
I am reaching out to you to let you know that I am ready, willing, and able to be that kind of leader and will be a candidate for the Honolulu City Council in the upcoming 2022 election. Serving as the Councilmember for the residents of Aiea, Pearl City and Waipahu will enable me to make positive and significant contributions to the future of District 8 and the City and County of Honolulu. I pledge to listen, work hard, and approach the challenges ahead of us with common sense and compassion.
I humbly ask for your support and your vote. I will work to make our community an even better, more vibrant place for our keiki, our kupuna, and for our ohana to live, work, and play.
Mahalo,
Dion
About me
I was born in Honolulu and raised on the island of Saipan. I returned home in 2000 to attend Chaminade University, graduating with my bachelor’s degree in business management and later a master’s degree in business administration in 2008. Since then, I have specialized in accounting in the private, government, and non-profit sectors in Hawaii and Saipan.
My greatest inspiration are my parents, Victor and Josephine. They were among the first in their families to attain a higher education and have dedicated much of their lives giving back to their communities. Victor worked in higher education and retired as a director from the local government in Saipan. Josephine continues to serve in an executive management role in the hotel industry and has done so for 28 years. Victor and Josephine continue to live out the core values of hard work, personal responsibility and commitment to family and community. These core values were handed down to them from their parents. I now strive to instill the same values in my teenage son Dominic and younger daughter Stella.
I am a member of the Pearl City Lions, Vice Chair on the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, Vice President of Community Development at JCI Honolulu, and Recording Secretary on the Finance Council at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in ‘Aiea. Over the years I have participated in countless neighborhood events, graduations, and civic functions that called for the community to roll up our sleeves to work on projects that improved conditions in the area. When the pandemic impacted local families and residents, I worked alongside many inspirational people to help distribute over 5,000 bags of food to families in the district impacted by COVID19.
Why Council
In 2014, I joined the staff of Councilmember Brandon Elefante. As his legislative aide for more than seven years, I worked on legislation and monitored infrastructure and development projects as well as handled constituent issues for the ‘Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahu communities. I gained firsthand knowledge of the concerns of the district and as your Councilmember, I would work immediately to address these issues. Moreover, my professional experience in accounting and finance has prepared me well for the fiscal responsibilities of the office, making sure that every tax dollar collected by city government is spent wisely.
Priorities
More Affordable Housing: Housing options for working families and the specialized needs of our senior citizens.
Help for the Homeless: Compassion for those in need of assistance, with better enforcement of laws designed to protect the public from people suffering from mental illness and drug addiction.
Access to efficient Public Transportation: Multi-modal options to accommodate the many ways people can get to and from their destinations.
Support for our First Responders: Adequate resources for our police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel
Upgrades to Infrastructure and Public Parks: Maintenance of city roads and sidewalks for pedestrian safety. Upkeep of our parks and modernization of recreational opportunities for our families.
Real Fiscal Responsibility: Make every penny count.
Let's Work Together
Hawaii is an incredible place to live. I love our island home and would work hard to make it even better for our children and grandchildren. It would be an honor to serve you on the Honolulu City Council.
Donate
While I am passionate about continuing to serve you and our community, I cannot do this alone. If you are able to make a contribution to my campaign, it will help tremendously in our efforts to reach out to the community.
Donations can be made by sending checks made payable to “Friends of Dion Mesta” to P.O. Box 722, Aiea, HI 96701 or via online donation below.
