Each week Editorial and Opinion Editor Jeanne Mariani-Belding hosts The Hot Seat, our opinion-page blog that brings in elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week was Senate President Colleen Hanabusa. Here is an excerpt from that Hot Seat session. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion and click on "The Hot Seat." (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Mitchell: I have a simple question. Will there be something significant done this session in the Legislature on the issue of homelessness, and will it be a noticeable difference? If so, tell us what and when. It's sad that so many are forced to live on beaches on the Wai'anae Coast — your district — and elsewhere. This has been going on for years now. Some changes are needed and those changes, senator, are long overdue, would you agree?

Hanabusa: Yes, I would agree that changes are long overdue. You are absolutely correct that many are forced to live on the beach on the Wai'anae Coast and that has been an issue in my district. This is because my constituents are beginning to feel we are carrying an unfair burden because the people of Wai'anae have always been very welcoming to others. There has been much done on the issue over the past sessions; however, we are now reaching a crisis situation in that revenue projects for the state are falling. As such, the capital necessary to address this issue will begin to compete with other needs. The people of Wai'anae would like the other people in the respective areas to address this issue.

Lualualei Naval Road (Nanakuli): The mayor says the following regarding your efforts to shut down Waimanalo Gulch: "I think Sen. Hanabusa is out of her mind; to shut us (Waimanalo Gulch) down in 2008 is unconscionable."

The mayor goes on to say, "One has to wonder given (Hanabusa's) single-minded insistence on closing Waimanalo Gulch whether she is truly representing the interests of the people of Nanakuli and Wai'anae or the development interests of Ko Olina."

My question is: Does your advocacy to shut down Waimanalo Gulch have anything to do with you living at Ko Olina?

Hanabusa: First, let me say that I think the mayor's comments are out of line. Only a bully resorts to this kind of personal attack on those who disagree with his position. We need to be able to discuss important questions facing our community like adults.

Having heard from a large number of residents of our Leeward Coast communities, I am certain that the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill operation is an important issue for everyone who lives in the area. Don't let the mayor distract you; this isn't about Ko Olina versus Nanakuli versus Wai'anae. It is about how the city continues to use our community as a dumping ground for O'ahu's waste.

In 2004, while running for mayor, Mufi Hannemann made a commitment to do everything in his power to close the landfill by 2008. Instead, his administration did absolutely nothing until the last minute, and then claimed that there was an emergency need to extend the landfill's operating permit. The current situation is the direct result of his administration's failure to take action on an issue of primary importance to everyone who calls the Leeward Coast home. Now he is trying to divide our community by insinuating that I only care about Ko Olina. Our communities have said, "No more landfills on the Wai'anae Coast." My advocacy is on behalf of all of them, and my concern is with the entire Leeward Coast. To imply otherwise is simply wrong.

In addition, with all due respect, you need to look at the entire history of landfills in our area. First of all, the so-called two-year extension is not only two years. It is intended to give the city time to do an environmental im-pact statement for yet another 15-year extension.

Originally in 2000, Mayor (Jeremy) Harris proposed a 15-year extension from 2003. Mayor Harris had his director, who today remains an employee of the city in charge of solid waste, testify under oath that the landfill needs only five years and that there would be no need for Waimanalo Gulch after that. This is why the landfill was ordered to be closed on May 1, 2008.

Mayor Hannemann was elected in 2004. He was on the City Council before that and ran against Mayor Harris. He promised the community he would close the landfill. The neighborhood boards voted against the two-year extension. And there was unanimous agreement with only one kanalua vote in the Wai'anae Neighborhood Board against the 15-year extension.

Rainbows: Would you consider running for mayor of Honolulu? Why or why not? How about governor in 2010? Another run for Congress, maybe?

Hanabusa: I am honored that you would propose that I consider all of the races. However, despite its challenges, I am very honored to continue in my representation of the 21st Senatorial District.

Paulette: Colleen, how are you planning to help the residents of Wai'anae pertaining to another exit route? The need has existed for at least a couple of decades now! The Wai'anae Coast has been paralyzed on countless occasions. Where is the help for the west side?

Hanabusa: The issue of an alternative route, a second highway or an emergency access road precedes even my representation of the area. A true exit would require probably tunneling through one of our valleys. This is because any emergency access route would have to daylight at Kahe Power Plant. So if there is an accident or water-main break or downed utility pole in that area, the access is blocked. We have funded in the past studies to explore another highway. The estimate was almost $1 billion to construct. We have explored whether going around Ka'ena Point is an alternative. This has raised significant concerns with Native Hawaiians due to the cultural issues. In addition, Ka'ena Point represents a two-lane road feeding into another two-lane road which has similar problems to ours. At this time, our best solution is the emergency access roads and we need to seriously assess if makai of Farrington Highway makes any sense in times of high surf and high winds.

Kevin: In past Legislature sessions, it seems that the Legislature will go against what the governor wants, no matter what, just because she is a Republican. Has there been any change of heart or are we looking forward to more of the same? If the Legislature was truly looking out to make things better, they would stop trying to stonewall Gov. (Linda) Lingle just because of her party affiliation.

Hanabusa: I don't believe that your statement is accurate. The governor will join me in saying that we have collectively worked very well on major issues such as Kukui Gardens and recently the harbor improvement among other issues. The governor has always been welcomed to discuss issues with me and she has. The most recent example is the resolution of Hawaii Superferry.

Retsamssa: Sen. Hanabusa, I fully recognize your right to support your candidate of choice in the presidential election. However, do you think it is fair to characterize Sen. (Barack) Obama's success in the Hawai'i Democratic caucus as solely being due to his roots in Hawai'i, especially considering his wide margins of victory in many other states where he does not have home-field advantage? Don't such statements make Hawai'i voters seem unsophisticated?

Hanabusa: I believe the Obama campaign did an excellent job and I have always said that anyone from Hawai'i has a sense of pride when we watch Sen. Obama. I do not intend for people to believe that the only reason people supported Sen. Obama is his Island ties. However, this is one of the rallying cries of the Obama campaign as well.

Bob: How come 75 percent of the party rejected your presidential candidate? Do you feel a little out of sync?

Hanabusa: I don't believe that 75 percent of the Democratic Party members rejected a candidate. I believe they voiced a preference. The reason I say this is because if Hillary Clinton is the nominee, I anticipate that the Democratic Party membership will fully support her. This is the democratic process.

Xoxon: What is your opinion on the argument currently going on in the state Legislature about corporate campaign contributions? Would you be for or against a total ban on corporate campaign contributions in the state of Hawai'i?

Hanabusa: I happen to have been the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs chair when the change was made to the law, which has resulted with the Campaign Spending Commission's misinterpretation of the law on corporate contributions. The bills presently being considered by the Legislature merely clarify the matter and restore the issue to where it was before this Campaign Spending Commission decided to make its own interpretation. As you may be aware, Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares has success-fully challenged the Campaign Spending Commission on this issue and candidates are being told that they must proceed at their peril unless the Legislature clarifies the law.