A CQ Roll Call survey asked reporters across the country to identify the top five issues “in their corner of the country, offering a rare look at the issues that occupy state governments.”

The survey concluded, “What immediately became clear was that, while issues like marijuana legalization and same-sex marriage herald major social changes and make headlines, the real business of state legislatures is often far more mundane. Most lawmakers and governors are fixated on everyday services.”

KITV reporter Andrew Pereira was interviewed for the survey, and here’s an excerpt of what he said:

1. BUDGET: Financial Woes May Be Ahead

Just a few minutes into his first state of the state speech Gov. David Ige pronounced a simple truth: Hawaii is spending more than it takes in. Ige’s $25.7 billion operating budget for the upcoming biennium relies on $665 million in carryover funds, and that’s with tourism breaking an all-time record last year with almost 8.3 million visitors. …

2. HOMELESSNESS: Officials Struggle to Address Growing Population

Although Hawaii remains a tropical paradise as the most isolated landmass on the planet, it’s getting more difficult for those who live here to carve out a living. The sad results can be seen daily in the number of people living on city streets, under bridges or in cars. …

3. HOUSING: Prices are Rising — And So is Demand

What can you buy in your state for $675,000? In Hawaii, that’s the median price of a single-family home, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors. On Oahu alone, 24,000 new units are needed over the next 15 years to address pent-up demand, according to a report by the Office of Housing. …

4. TRANSPORTATION: Honolulu’s Rail Line Continues to Raise Doubts

Honolulu’s rail line is Hawaii’s most infamous public works project, the largest in its 55-year history. Although it is being built by the City and County of Honolulu, the legislature set the project in motion in 2005 when it approved a half-percent increase in the state’s general excise tax. …

5. MARIJUANA: Fight Over Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill

In the year 2000, Hawaii was one of the first states in the nation to legalize medical marijuana under Act 228. Fifteen years later, state lawmakers are struggling with what to do next. …