Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Aug. 10 Primary Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from Kana Naipo, Democratic candidate for state House District 49, which covers Kaneohe and Maunawili. His primary opponent is Scot Matayoshi.

Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot.

1. What is the biggest issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

As a local resident, it has been important for me to spend time listening to residents, community leaders, local organizations and stakeholders to fully understand the concerns and challenges we Kaneohe residents identify as most pressing. They include:

Housing affordability and availability.

Infrastructure: sidewalks, bus stops, pot holes.

Education: student safety, teacher pay.

Public safety and crime prevention.

Environmental protection and sustainability efforts.

Economic development and availability of good jobs.

Access to health care and community services.

There are so many important issues that require attention and action. What I can commit to is taking a proactive, responsive approach if elected. This would involve attending community meetings, being accessible to constituents, soliciting input through surveys/forums and working collaboratively with local leaders to identify priorities.

As a hopeful representative, my role would be to listen first and then amplify the voices of my constituents — making no assumptions about what matters most to all of us. If given the opportunity, I will make it a priority to immerse myself fully in understanding Kaneohe’s biggest challenges from the ground up. Only then can I draft a solution to improve quality of life for all residents.

2. How do you feel about the massive income tax cut just approved by the Legislature and the governor? Do you have any concerns that it will force reductions in state services in the years to come?

The recently approved substantial income tax cut was a bold move to put more money back into the pockets of hard-working Hawaii residents. This tax relief will provide welcome financial breathing room for families and individuals struggling under the state’s high cost of living. Supporters claim it could stimulate consumer spending and spur economic investment and growth.

While concerns about potential budget shortfalls are understandable, the tax cut presents an opportunity to get creative about streamlining government operations and prioritizing core services. Reduced revenue could inspire more efficient and cost-effective ways to meet citizens’ needs. Economic growth spurred by the tax cuts could also help backfill any deficits over time.

Ultimately, this tax cut demonstrates a commitment to easing the financial burden on residents and businesses. It’s a proactive step to improve quality of life and make Hawaii more affordable. With some fiscal discipline and an innovative approach, the state can make this work for the betterment of its people while still funding priorities. An optimistic vision paired with responsible management can turn this challenge into an opportunity.

3. Hawaii continues to struggle with pay-to-play politics and corruption in government. What meaningful reforms do you think would change state government for the better?

Campaign finance reform could include providing public financing options for candidates who agree to strict fundraising limits, closing loopholes that allow money to flow through super-PACs and dark money groups and implementing strict limits on campaign contributions, particularly from special interests, corporations and lobbyists.

Regarding ethics and lobbying regulations, we could enact cooling-off periods before former lawmakers/officials can become lobbyists, ban gifts from lobbyists to elected officials above a minimal amount, require lobbyists to comprehensively report all lobbying contacts and expenditures and strengthen ethics rules and enforcement for state officials regarding conflicts of interest.

Regarding procurement process reform, we could institute robust anti-corruption measures in the bidding and contracting processes, mandate open competition and transparency in awarding government contracts and rotate oversight of personnel to prevent cozy relationships developing.

For legislative reforms, we could restrict former lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for a set period of time after leaving office, strengthen bribery and public corruption laws with stricter penalties and provide protections and incentives for whistleblowers to report unethical conduct.

No system is flawless, but I believe that if Hawaii enforces a few of these measures it can reduce improper influences, increase transparency and ensure elected officials prioritize the public interest over special interests. 

4. Candidates often say they will support reform proposals in the Legislature. And yet major reform proposals don’t pass. Will you back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership? If you are an incumbent, can you point to an example of a reform that you supported?

When it comes to pushing for much-needed reforms to combat corruption and undue influences in government, I firmly believe candidates and elected officials must be willing to act with integrity — even if it means bucking party leadership or special interests.

Too often, politicians make lofty promises about supporting ethics reforms and curtailing pay-to-play politics on the campaign trail, only to backpedal or toe the party line once in office. This betrays the public trust and perpetuates a rigged system that benefits the powerful over the people’s interests.

Yet if ever I am to represent my community, I am fully committed to support and advocate for substantive good-government proposals — campaign finance reform, ethics rules, lobbying regulations, whistleblower protections, etc. With the help of other honest lawmakers I will prioritize these reforms over partisan allegiances or pressure from monied special interests.

The people’s faith in government has been eroded by perpetual corruption scandals. Real lasting change will require principled elected officials who remain steadfast in their resolve, even when it means casting difficult votes or confronting the establishment.

Only by matching words with determined actions can we begin to restore that trust. 

5. Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate? Why or why not?

I fully support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate in such a system. This reform is vital for several reasons:

Firstly, it levels the playing field, enabling qualified candidates to run competitive campaigns without reliance on wealthy donors or special interests, fostering more balanced debates.

Secondly, by diminishing the influence of private and corporate money in elections, public financing helps combat legal corruption and ensures policy decisions are not unduly influenced by wealthy funders.

Thirdly, it promotes increased competition by reducing financial barriers, allowing candidates from diverse backgrounds to participate and giving voters more choices.

Moreover, comprehensive public financing restores public trust by signaling a commitment to governance free from undue donor influence. It also liberates elected officials to legislate in the public interest rather than catering to donor demands for future fundraising.

While opponents cite concerns about costs and administrative complexities, I argue that these are worthwhile investments to safeguard democratic integrity. Implementing reasonable candidate qualifications can help manage costs while expanding democratic participation.

In essence, removing money’s corrosive impact from politics is essential to restore confidence in government serving the people’s interests over special interests. Comprehensive public financing stands as a cornerstone of the anti-corruption reforms I deem essential

6. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process. Do you support such a process? Why or why not?

Surprisingly, my position has not changed. I still oppose implementing a statewide citizens initiative process in Hawaii for several reasons.

Firstly, such processes often bypass legislative scrutiny and can result in poorly crafted laws that contradict existing regulations or are difficult to enforce.

Secondly, they can be heavily influenced by special interest groups with significant financial resources, potentially undermining the democratic process.

Lastly, Hawaii’s unique cultural and environmental challenges require thoughtful, informed policymaking that may not be achievable through a direct initiative process prone to oversimplification and emotional appeal.

Therefore, I believe Hawaii should maintain its current legislative framework to ensure careful deliberation and accountability in lawmaking.

7. Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity, incumbents are almost always reelected in Hawaii legislative races. Should there be term limits for state legislators, as there are for the governor’s office and county councils? Why or why not?

I believe implementing reasonable term limits for Hawaii state legislators could bring fresh perspectives and prevent prolonged incumbency, which sometimes leads to non-competitive elections and undue influence from special interests.

While term limits alone aren’t a cure-all, pairing them with ethics laws, campaign finance reform and open primaries could enhance accountability and competitiveness. Extending limits to leadership roles could further prevent concentration of power. Overall, this balanced approach aims to foster a dynamic and responsive legislative system.

8. What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature? Do you support ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session?

With a stronger understanding of the ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law, I support measures to increase transparency and ethical standards for state lawmakers, including the following:

Applying Hawaii’s open meetings and records “Sunshine Law” to the Legislature to prevent backroom dealing.

Banning lawmakers from accepting campaign contributions during legislative sessions to remove pay-to-play perceptions.

Enacting revolving door prohibitions on lawmakers immediately becoming lobbyists.

Banning gifts from lobbyists above a nominal value.

Requiring detailed accounting of lawmakers’ free travel and sponsors.

Creating an independent ethics commission to oversee the Legislature.

Mandating anti-corruption and ethics training for all legislators.

The Legislature should face the highest ethical standards and have its workings open to public scrutiny. Sunlight and integrity reforms are vital to rebuilding trust in our policymaking process. I will prioritize and champion these accountability measures.

9. How would you make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to the public? Opening conference committees to the public? Stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists? How could the Legislature change its own internal rules to be more open?

Enhancing transparency and accessibility in Hawaii’s Legislature is imperative. Several key reforms are essential to achieve this goal.

Firstly, conference committees, where crucial final negotiations on major legislation occur, should be conducted in public and with proper notice, similar to other committee hearings. This transparency ensures that significant decisions are made openly with accountability.

Secondly, strengthening lobbying disclosure requirements is crucial. Detailed reports on lobbyists’ interactions with lawmakers, expenditures, issues advocated for and specific bills or contracts they influence are necessary to combat hidden influences on legislative decisions effectively.

Thirdly, embracing digital age norms, legislative meetings, hearings and floor sessions should continue to be livestreamed and archived online. This practice enables constituents and watch dogs to easily monitor proceedings. Additionally, lawmakers and staff should undergo mandatory annual ethics training. Regular disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, such as personal investments or external employment, further ensures impartial decision-making.

Internally, the Legislature should modify its rules to enhance openness. This includes providing adequate notice and comment periods for proposed legislation, ensuring early availability of amendments and impartial oversight by third-party compliance officers to prevent ethical lapses.

10. Many people have talked about diversifying the local economy for many years now, and yet Hawaii is still heavily reliant on tourism. What, if anything, should be done differently about tourism and the economy?

Diversifying Hawaii’s economy is crucial for long-term sustainability and resilience. While tourism is important, expanding into other sectors is essential. Key areas to focus on include:

First, revitalizing agriculture by supporting sustainable farming practices, incentivizing diverse crop cultivation, investing in agricultural infrastructure and technology and promoting locally sourced products, Hawaii can enhance food security, create jobs and boost economic activity.

Second, harnessing Hawaii’s natural resources like solar, wind, geothermal and ocean power could position the islands as a leader in renewable energy. Partnerships, research, training and policies would support a growing green tech sector.

Third, establishing innovation hubs focused on fields like unmanned systems, ocean research and cybersecurity could capitalize on Hawaii’s strategic Pacific location. Public investments, industry incentives and STEM education initiatives would attract pioneering companies and talent, driving economic growth through innovation.

Last, expanding the film and digital media industry by building state-of-the-art production facilities, offering smart incentives and promoting Hawaii as a hub for film, TV, animation, gaming and VR/AR content creation would further diversify the economy.

To achieve economic diversification, both public and private sectors must commit long-term. Less reliance on tourism is crucial for economic strength, good jobs and Hawaii’s future success.

11. An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by, a problem that reaches far beyond low-income and into the middle class, which is disappearing. What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here?

Without a strong middle class, our economy risks polarization between “haves” and “have nots,” which is unsustainable. To address this, I propose several key initiatives:

Firstly, tackling housing affordability is paramount. This includes accelerating the development of affordable rental and for-sale housing through partnerships, zoning reform for higher densities, incentives for affordable housing in new projects and prioritizing local residents in housing policies.

Secondly, easing the overall cost of living is crucial. Measures such as expanding tax relief, temporary caps on essential costs like groceries, subsidies for child care and promoting local food production can provide tangible relief to families.

Thirdly, addressing stagnant wages by setting a livable minimum wage tied to inflation, supporting workforce development and incentivizing middle-class career opportunities will uplift our workforce.

Additionally, diversifying our economy beyond tourism into sectors like technology, sustainable agriculture, green energy and manufacturing will create more pathways to the middle class.

Bold and sustained action is essential to rebuild and maintain a robust middle class in Hawaii. Ensuring a decent quality of life for working families is not just a goal but a necessity for our state’s future prosperity, and I am dedicated to prioritizing these efforts.