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 Jeanne Kapela, Democratic candidate for State House District 5 covering communities in Puna, Kaʻū and South Kona.

Her opponents are Hawaiʻi County Council member Matthew Kaneali’I-Kleinfelder and Dalene McCormick.

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? And why do you want the job?

I was born and raised in South Kona and am honored to be the first woman and Native Hawaiian to represent House District 5. Growing up in poverty shaped my commitment to working families and economic opportunity. Before serving in the Legislature, I worked with survivors of sexual exploitation and violence. Today, I chair the Working Families Caucus. I am committed to championing change that matters for everyday people, especially vulnerable residents who are often overlooked in policy making.

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

House District 5 stretches more than 108 miles from South Kona through Kaʻū and Volcano to the edge of Hilo. While each community faces unique challenges, the issue I hear most often is inadequate water and other basic infrastructure. Water is foundational; you cannot solve housing, healthcare or education without it. In my first six months, I would prioritize water infrastructure while also expanding healthcare access and strengthening educational facilities throughout the district.

Here’s one question from your constituents: Do you support maintaining a monopoly for interisland shipping?

No. I voted against the Water Carriers Bill and would do so again. Hawaiʻi needs stronger food security on every island and a more diversified economy. We should not depend on a single shipping monopoly for essential goods. We also need greater accountability in shipping rates through a more transparent, publicly accountable regulatory structure that protects residents from high costs.

What do you think were the most important bills to come out of the 2026 Legislature? What failed that should have passed? What passed that you wish had failed?

Many significant bills passed in 2026. Medical debt relief will be life-changing for families burdened by healthcare costs. For teachers, step increases tied to years of service will help retain educators and address teacher shortages. I am also proud of the Public Land Trust bill, which directs $55 million to OHA, protecting Native Hawaiian programs facing federal funding cuts. And we passed landmark measures strengthening the civil rights of immigrants who call our community home.

The 2026 session was also overshadowed by an issue of public trust: $35,000 in the brown paper bag given to an “influential” state lawmaker. What do you think the Legislature needs to do going forward to rebuild public confidence in state government?

Rebuilding trust cannot happen from Honolulu alone. Legislators need to spend meaningful time in their communities, listening and showing up as people who care about their constituents. We should also strengthen ethics enforcement and campaign spending transparency, including by ensuring campaign contributions cannot be made to influence pending government contracts. Accountability must be institutional, not just individual. We need to put people before profit, always.

In recent years, Hawai’i has experienced a series of damaging and dangerous weather events that have exposed weaknesses in our planning, preparation and response. What could you as a lawmaker do to help your district be better prepared?

We have already begun this work following the Kona low storms and South Kona earthquake. My priority is to establish resilience hubs across my district and expand community-based preparedness efforts statewide. Preparation happens before disasters occur: building trusted networks, identifying recovery pathways and strengthening communal coordination. We must continue improving emergency communications networks and critical infrastructure, and building long-term climate resilience.

What would you do in office to address the here and now of climate change? And how would you address the costs to taxpayers, property owners and businesses to adapt?

Rising seas, flooding and extreme weather are threatening Hawaiʻi’s communities. We need to invest in clean energy, expand access to good-paying green jobs, and strengthen conservation efforts through tools like visitor green fees. I also support innovative climate adaptation strategies, including managed retreat from vulnerable coastlines, increasing access to electrification and nature-based solutions that connect carbon emissions reduction with environmental restoration.

Over 3,000 bills are introduced every session and there is always frantic horsetrading in the final days of session. Do you think there should be a limit on the number of bills introduced to enable more meaningful debate?

The House already limits bill introductions, while the Senate does not. The Senate should adopt similar limits to encourage more focused and deliberate legislation. If we want more meaningful debate, we should also explore establishing a year-round legislative session structure, with separate periods for budget and policy bills. Many legislators already work year-round. A longer, more structured process would improve transparency and public participation.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers are often in the dark about how much a piece of legislation will cost because the Aloha State is the only one in the nation that doesn’t require a fiscal analysis for bills. Should lawmakers be forced to put a realistic price tag on the legislation they introduce?

I support requiring fiscal notes. An independent office analyzing the financial impact of legislation would improve transparency and decision-making, as it has in many other states. Fiscal notes help stakeholders have honest conversations about the costs and benefits of new ideas. However, cost alone should not determine policy. Investments in priorities like childcare, family leave and school transportation should be considered in terms of their overall benefit, not just short-term costs.

There are no term limits for state legislators in Hawaiʻi, so incumbents tend to win. Would you seek to change that? Why or why not?

The premise deserves scrutiny. Turnover in the Legislature has increased significantly, with over half the body now serving less than two years. I do not support term limits. Longevity builds institutional knowledge and relationships that lead to better legislation and community outcomes. What I would support is age limits, similar to what Hawaiʻi imposes on the judiciary. That balances the value of experience with the need for generational renewal.

What would you do to help improve the state’s public school system?

Education is the greatest equalizer, and I have worked for years to fully and equitably fund it, especially in rural communities. We need to repair aging school facilities and improve transportation through free bus access and better options for rural families. I also support expanding preschool opportunities and community school initiatives, like the one at Hōnaunau Elementary, which show how bringing healthcare and public services onto campus can improve attendance and student outcomes.

Hawaiʻi is heavily reliant on tourism. What would you propose to diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy?

This session I secured $2.5 million for an agricultural park and value-added facility in Kaʻū to support farmers, strengthen food resilience, and create economic opportunity beyond tourism. I also support developing local processing capacity to expand agricultural markets. Additionally, as chair of the House Committee on Culture and the Arts, I helped move the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to DBEDT, strengthening support for Hawaiʻi’s growing creative economy.

An estimated 60% of Hawaiʻi residents are struggling to get by. It’s a problem that reaches far beyond low-income folks and into the middle class, which is disappearing. What would you do to help?

Affordability is the defining challenge for Hawaiʻi families. As co-convener of the Working Families Caucus, I focus on reducing the cost of living and building family wealth. This year I introduced HB 2006, creating a newborn support program that provides direct cash assistance to families during one of the most financially vulnerable periods of life. I also support tax fairness, expanding homeownership opportunities, paid family leave, universal childcare and eliminating the GET on groceries.