Civil Beat has asked candidates for the Hawaiʻi General Election on Nov. 3 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Zed Kaʻapana Aki, nonpartisan candidate for the office of Hawaiʻi County Council Member District 6, which covers the rural southern and western portions of the Big Island, including the communities of Volcano, Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, Ocean View, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, and Hōnaunau.

His opponents are Justin Canelas, Guy Enriques, Kyle Kepano Jones and Jason Masters.

Go to Civil Beat’s 2026 Elections Guide for general information, and check out the other candidates on Civil Beatʻs 2026 Hawaiʻi Primary Ballot.

Why are you best suited for the job of council member? And why do you want the job?

Hawai’i is the only home I’ve ever known. I’m Native Hawaiian and my roots run deep here. This is where I’m raising my children. I believe I’m uniquely qualified because I bring a combination of practical experience and professional expertise. I grew up on a farm, operate a farm today, hold a Juris Doctor, and have spent more than two decades working in public policy and community advocacy. I understand how government works and the challenges local families face. I’m all about our better future.

What is the biggest issue facing Hawai‘i County, and what is the first thing you would do to address it in the first six months after being elected?

We’re facing a total system meltdown stemming from Hawai’i County’s rising cost of living, which is driven by housing shortages, food insecurity, infrastructure deficits, and a lack of economic opportunities that allow local families to remain in Hawai’i. In my first six months, I would focus on removing barriers to housing and agricultural development by identifying permitting bottlenecks, advancing infrastructure investments and strengthening support for local food production.

Here’s one question from a constituent: How would you make it safer to get in and out of Puna?

District 6 includes Ka’u and South Kona, however, I can share my opinion on how I would make it safer to get in and out of Puna. I would support accelerating completion of alternative evacuation routes, improving highway capacity and intersection safety, expanding emergency access roads and investing in resilient infrastructure designed to withstand severe weather conditions.

The county’s Homelessness and Housing Fund is due to expire in 2027 and some council members are skeptical that the fund has helped solve the problem. Would you vote to extend the fund, and what would you do to come to grips with this persistent problem?

Yes, I would. I’m a strong supporter and advocate of fiscal responsibility in government – getting rid of waste, inefficient spending, and the misallocation of funds. With that said, the purpose of the Homeless and Housing Fund (Ordinance 22-26, 2022) was not to solve homeless, but rather, to mitigate homelessness to the degree that it is “rare, brief, and non-recurring.” This law still has a functional purpose and I believe with better management, funding can get us closer to fulfilling it.

Vacation rentals — illegal or not — are often blamed for reducing availability of affordable housing on the Big Island. What steps should the county take to deal with the proliferation of vacation rentals and create more affordable housing?

It’s true that every non-owner-occupied Short Term Vacation Rental takes up housing inventory that could otherwise go to a family who is need of a home. Yet, STVRs in communities like mine – where economic opportunities are slim – offer supplemental income streams that alleviate the economic burden on hard-working families. We need to find an effective balance. Cookie-cutter schemes applied across the county won’t work. We need a complex framework taking into consideration the needs of each community impacted.

Half of Hawai‘i’s cesspools are on the Big Island – an estimated 49,000 –  and Mayor Kimo Alameda has already said the county will not meet the state’s 2050 deadline to convert them to cleaner systems. What steps should the county take to address the cesspool issue?

The mayor is correct. Cesspool conversion is a costly endeavor and we can’t reasonably expect our residents – a great many of whom live paycheck-to-paycheck – to somehow come up with upwards of $20,000 to update their sewage system. This is a critical issue so, the county needs to get support from the state and federal governments. If need be, the county should consider leveraging bond financing to fund these improvements. Add extra checks by requiring voter-approved bond measures.

What specific steps should the county take to relieve traffic congestion in and around Kailua-Kona and along the Puna-Kea‘au-Hilo corridor?

Plan/build better, decentralize employment (more economic opportunities in Puna, South Kona, Ka’u), improve transportation capacity and connections. West Hawai’i traffic is primarily due to exponential growth mauka of Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy/Hawaii Belt Rd., while the brunt of employment, tourism, schools and services are concentrated along the coast and highway – this creates heavy commuting patterns in an area with very few alternatives. East Hawai’i is from the Puna/Ka’u commute to Hilo.

Investors have sunk more than $500 million into the Pepe‘ekeo bioenergy plant known as Hu Honua or Honua Ola, but the plant has still been unable to begin producing power. Should the biomass energy plant be allowed to start operating? Why or why not?

Can we afford to scrap the project, or should we see if we can get some kind of return on investment? This is a fundamental question that I believe the county needs to answer. I should also note that this question – alone – isn’t the sole determinant. Conversations about green energy and environmental conservation always surface surrounding the bioenergy plant. Without knowing the financial status, proposed realistic alternatives, community sentiment – I cannot give a definitive answer here.

Both the state and county are showing interest in expanding production of geothermal energy on Hawaiʻi island. What is your position on geothermal power, and what constraints should be placed on it?

Geothermal energy has the potential to meet Hawai’i’s energy demands at a fraction of the footprint of solar and wind. Geothermal energy development isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of deal – there are a variety of development types and technologies, with new technologies. PGV was a bad example of geothermal, yet good examples exist around the world. For geothermal to be a viable reality, it needs to be safe, give back to the community, be culturally sensitive, and involve Native Hawaiian leadership.

What specific plans do you have to improve disaster preparedness and response on the Big Island?

Constant outreach campaigns involving education and awareness. More opportunities to participate in programs like the Hawai’i County Basic Community Emergency Response Team training course. Making sure we have an effective plan and the necessary response facilities in place.

What should Hawaiʻi County do to get in front of climate change rather than just reacting and adapting to it?

We have the Integrated Climate Action Plan for the Island of Hawai’i (ICAP), which is strong starting framework, but it has weaknesses: it focuses largely on county actions rather than island-wide systems, relies heavily on future studies and planning, lacks dedicated long-term funding, uses some incomplete or generalized data, avoids difficult land-use decisions such as managed retreat from vulnerable areas, and provides limited enforcement mechanisms to ensure actions have measurable outcomes.

Hawai‘i has a long-stated goal of growing more of its own food. What would you do to further that effort toward increased food sustainability?

I have a Master’s in Agricultural Science and I can say that Hawai’i’s food security is dependent on much more than just growing crops. We need ag. water systems, farm infrastructure, processing facilities, cold storage, distribution networks that contribute to operation profitability. I strongly support protecting ag. lands, expanding farm-to-school and local purchasing programs, revitalizing traditional Native Hawaiian food systems and creating pathways for new farmers.