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

The following comes from JoNelle Fukushima, nonpartisan candidate for Hawaiʻi County Council Member District 2 which includes portions of South Hilo, Downtown Hilo, Bayfront, Wailoa, a portion of Waiākea Houselots, University Heights, Komohana Gardens, a portion of Waiākea Uka, Lanakila, Mohouli, Ainako, Kaumana, Pi’ihonua, Wailuku and Waiānuenue.

She is running against candidates Blaine Bautista, Wendy Botelho, William Halversen and incumbent Jennifer Kagiwada in the Aug. 8 primary.

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?

I was raised in Hilo and have spent more than 16 years working directly with people on the edge, including homeless veterans, and years in safety, federal service and labor advocacy. I know how to read a budget, fix broken systems and hold agencies accountable. I’m running not to make speeches, but to make Hilo safer, more affordable and a place where local families and small businesses can actually thrive.

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?

Our biggest issue is that the cost of living keeps climbing while basic services and safety feel like they’re slipping. You see it downtown, in our housing crisis and in families thinking about leaving. In my first six months, I would drive a clear, public action plan for Downtown Hilo and nearby neighborhoods, with specific steps on safety, enforcement on dangerous properties and better management of public spaces so people can see real improvement on the ground.

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

I’d use every tool we have, starting with better use of Stainback Road as a relief valve for Highway 130 during peak hours and emergencies. We need targeted safety fixes and turn lanes on 130, clearer routing and signaling that shift some traffic to alternate routes when it’s jammed, and steady enforcement where crashes are worst. Long term, I support moving ahead on additional connectors so Puna isn’t dependent on a single lifeline.

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?

I would vote to extend the fund, but with much stricter accountability and clearer goals. We’ve invested tens of millions and still see tents downtown. I want a Finland style “housing first” approach: more units with on site services, one shared by name list, and funding tied to outcomes like exits to permanent housing and reduced street homelessness, not just activity.

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?

We already regulate short‑term rentals; the problem is uneven enforcement and too few homes for locals. I’d crack down on illegal and large unhosted rentals in the most impacted areas, protect compliant hosted rentals, and speed up truly affordable and workforce housing so residents have real options.

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?

Half the state’s cesspools are here, so we can’t pretend a one size‑fits‑all solution will magically hit 2050. I support a phased plan that prioritizes the highest risk areas first, lines up state and federal money, and gives homeowners clear and affordable options, not just mandates. The county’s job is to coordinate infrastructure, target grants and loans, and give families and small landlords a realistic path instead of leaving them to face huge bills alone.

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

No response provided.

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?

Any project of this size has to pencil out on cost, climate and risk to our community, not just sunk investment. Regulators have already found serious concerns about Hu Honua’s greenhouse gas emissions and likely higher costs to ratepayers compared to other renewables. I’m not convinced those issues are resolved, so I do not support moving it forward unless it can clearly meet our climate goals and deliver affordable power without crowding out cleaner, cheaper options.

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 is a powerful resource on Hawaiʻi island, but our history shows that how it’s done matters as much as whether it’s done. I support cautiously expanding geothermal only with strong community consent, strict environmental safeguards, real time monitoring, clear limits on noise and emissions, and enforceable community benefit agreements so nearby residents share in the gains and are protected from the risks.

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

We live on an island of lava, hurricanes, tsunamis and pandemics, so disaster planning can’t be something we dust off after an event. I support strengthening neighborhood level preparedness, clear evacuation routes, backup communications, and hubs for supplies, while upgrading our early warning systems and coordination between county, state, and community groups, so that when something happens, people know exactly where to go and who is in charge.

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

Climate change is already here for us as flooding, heat, coastal erosion and rising insurance costs. The county should bake climate into every major decision: where we build, how we protect shorelines and critical roads, how we design infrastructure, and how quickly we shift to local renewables and efficiency so families aren’t crushed by energy and insurance costs down the line.

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?

We talk about food security a lot while still importing most of what we eat. I would focus on practical steps: food hubs and processing in Hilo so small farmers can reach bigger buyers, farm-to-school and hospital contracts that guarantee local demand, and zoning and water policies that actually support local producers instead of pushing them out. The goal is more local food on local tables and more income staying in our communities.