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 Lynn Vasquez, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 13, a diverse Honolulu district that extends mauka of Chinatown through Liliha and Nuʻuanu including Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, and Iwilei.

Her opponents are Lei Ahu Isa, Wallyn Kanoelani Christian, James Logue, Tricia Kwai Lin Nakamatsu and Jordan Nakamura.

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 am not a career politician or government bureaucrat. I’m a normal person who grew up in the district and understand what everyday people are going through. Costs are driving people away from our island, housing is scarce and expensive, and overall people are just struggling to get by. My parents raised us while owning small businesses in Chinatown – we watched them work hard, build their dreams and prosper over the many decades. Times are much different now. Owning a business is harder.

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?

​People are struggling. The cost of living in Hawaiʻi has skyrocketed, and people are feeling it now more than ever. As I walk around the district and talk to people, this is the common denominator. No one wants to be pushed out of the state. As a senator I would advocate for robust progressive tax policies that would help working class people by providing breaks on food and medicine, two things that are important and many people are struggling to provide.

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

No. This has been an issue a long-time coming. With just one or two major shipping companies operating on bringing our goods from the continental U.S., there is no wonder that costs are raised. I would support encouraging and growing beyond our current logistics/transportation infrastructure that would allow for more transportation options for both shipping and travel.

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 was disappointed that HB2458 did not become law. Hawaii families deserve protection from technology-driven pricing practices that can make everyday goods more expensive. I was disappointed by SB3125 because I believe Hawaiʻi should continue pursuing broad-based affordability and tax relief for working families whenever fiscally possible.

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?

The Legislature should adopt more bold policies that target eliminating corruption and undue influence. After the initial scandal a few years ago, there were a panel of ethics and good-government-related legislation and I think they need to go back to that list and adopt more of the items. Their legislative response to address corruption does not go far enough, and the continuation of these shadows of corruption in the government continue to erode public trust.

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?

I would continue to support state programs and state civil defense planning, to improve readiness and capacity for such unforeseen emergency natural disaster events.

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?

I support the state’s policy of renewable energy and sustainability. I think we can continue to seek legislative interventions to reduce carbon emission and also expand the capacity for our solar grid, such as more battery facilities.

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?

I think there could be a lot of meaningful reform internally in the Legislature, such as improving accountability of the committee system as well as the conference committee system in order to provide a greater level of transparency.

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. We should approach the state budget just like we would balance our personal checkbooks – a realistic accounting would improve the Legislature’s ability to allocate resources efficiently. For example at the federal level Congress is guided by the Congressional Budget Office that makes estimations on the costs of pending legislation or the financial impacts of such proposals. I support reforms that would align with that model.

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?

I support term limits for legislative office. Such reform would help to bring more ideas and leaders into the mix, and I think that would be beneficial to Hawaiʻi.

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

​Work on the insane facilities and maintenance backlog for the Department of Education. This has been an ongoing issue and many projects are appropriated by the Legislature, but the funds often never get used. We need a way to streamline this process, so our schools and parks can get the needed changes for our keiki. I would also continue to support teachers by working on workforce housing and additional pay initiatives so we can continue to recruit quality and qualified teachers and keep them here.

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

I support expanding the state’s ability to grow more of our own food. We should also provide more support to our local manufacturers, many of whom are in my district. While we cannot completely shut down the tourism industry, I think it is vital to diversify our industry to bring good-paying jobs and security for our working families that are not solely rooted in the visitor industry.

An estimated 60% of Hawaii 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?

Affordable (truly affordable) housing must be built. Developers must be held to a high standard, so that the affordable housing created is of good quality and truly affordable. I would also support tax breaks on food and medicine, which are like the basic of necessities and would benefit, kūpuna and keiki alike. These affordability issues would be my top priority to help struggling Hawaiʻi families to thrive and succeed.