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 Matthew Kaneali’i-Kleinfelder, Democratic candidate for State House District 5 covering communities in Puna, Kaʻū and South Kona.

His opponents are the incumbent Jeanne Kapela 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?

Aloha! I have represented our community for eight years on the Hawaiʻi County Council successfully navigating the political and legislative processes that define our county. I live in Ola’a, love our community, and as a leader, have a responsibility to better our home for future generations. I can and will address: overflowing and dilapidated state highways in Kona and Puna. I will increase educational resources for our students and pay for our teachers. Together we can!

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?

District 5 is bigger than Oʻahu and incredibly diverse, however, we face the same issues in Kona, Volcano and Puna; our main highways are narrow and falling apart. People are dying and our elected state officials are silent. Given the state push for affordable housing, tourism and increasing density, the state must improve the main Highways in and out of our rural areas. When elected, I will find the funding and improve/widen Panaʻewa Stretch and Hawaiʻi Belt Road in South Kona.

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

As a business owner, I can tell you that no good comes from having monopolized shipping. Supply and demand through competition drive pricing. We are dependent on the goods delivered in containers and shipping costs are built into every aspect of our lives in Hawaiʻi. We must support competition in our local supply chain to lower the cost of living for local families. The Public Utilities Commission should also be watched carefully to ensure transparency in decision making.

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?

I look to the State to address funding and resources for the improvement in our lives. The big win this year was SB 3125 that provides tax relief to our residents earning less than $350,000 per-year. Coming from the construction field, I am a nuts-and-bolts person. I prefer to keep the systems we have in working order. Tax relief leaves money in our pockets and lets us focus on bettering our ʻohana.

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?

This is exactly why I decided to run. Itʻs high time to set term limits for state seats. Elected officials are getting too comfortable, leading to shameful behavior at all levels. This is not the first or last time special interests have been involved in state decision-making. Stiffen the penalties and have an independent team work to actively seek out criminal behavior in the Capitol.

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?

In our district the most pressing threat is eruptions from Kīlauea. We need alternate routes, emergency plans and shelters for our growing population. Across the state, growth must be centered in areas away from tidal surge and rivers. In dry areas, the promotion of controlled burns and fire-resistant building materials. Increased state emergency plans and proper chain of command protocols. Recent fire disasters point to quick means of communication for the public and first responders.

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?

During the eruption in Puna, thousands of home were lost in a few weeks. Many of the people who lived there were resolute in accepting and understanding that we choose to live on an active volcano. Government needs to draw a line in allowing building in disaster-prone areas to address the costs inherent in disaster response. We have emergency funds and stabilization funds on standby to help when needed, as well as FEMA.

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?

All to often, legislators become lost in the need to pass bills, simply to pass bills. My desire is to maintain what we have with a focus on efficiency and prioritization by need. A limit may lessen a good legislator’s abilities. Careful discernment by state leadership should be exercised. Perhaps a fiscal impact statement for bills should be required before submission to the committees.

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?

Yes. It’s no surprise that fiscal impact is not considered when tax money flows freely!

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?

State officials need term limits. Term limits broaden the pool of candidates and nurture ideas. Term limits are necessary in government to create relatable growth in comparison with the world around us. Entrenched incumbents drag down the system by offering funds and status to other elected officials in trade for their legislative “majority.” This creates one-sided voting blocks and stale decisionmaking. Bills, ideas, and creativity are killed through majority politics. People over politics!

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

My parents were both teachers. Increase teachers pay immediately. Provide teachers with the materials they need to educate our keiki. Require food in the schools to be sourced locally and healthy. Pay school staff more. I introduced a county resolution to require financial literacy to graduate; four years later the DOE implemented financial literacy. Improving our keiki’s environment will increase their desire to learn. Teach trades at a young age and bring back Home Economics!

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

Selling “Aloha” has been the mainstay of Hawaiʻi’s economy for too long. Diversifying from a tourism-based economy requires a broad spectrum analysis. Decreased tourism equals less money, and fewer environmental and social impacts. A decreased tax base creates negative pockets in state and county budgets. Decreasing cost of living, increasing agricultural output, and actively discovering another output from our Islands is paramount as we look to decrease the impacts of tourism.

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?

The people of Hawaiʻi need to be prioritized above profits. Providing cost-of-living and tax relief to our residents is paramount. Residents should not pay taxes to maintain parks, beaches, and also pay the Transient Accommodation Tax and park entrance fees. Goods should not be taxed at every point of sale. Rates by the utilities need to go down as we increase renewable energy saturation. Housing costs need to be controlled. Real estate sales to outside entities should be limited.