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 incumbent Dennis Onishi, nonpartisan candidate for Hawaiʻi County Council Member District 3, which includes which includes parts of Orchidland and Hawaiian Paradise Park, Paneawa, Pūʻainakō and Keaukaha.

He is running against Kelton Chang 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 have worked in county government for 21 years, eight years as a council member in District 4 and 3, then four years as the East Hawaiʻi Governor’s Representative. I want to continue to help my community and Hawaiʻi County to make a better living.

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?

In my first term, the biggest issue facing Hawaiʻi County is our mandated obligations to our wastewater treatment plants. The amount of funds that will be required to meet the federal requirements is overwhelming in the next five years. So that, I would like to continue to create all day summer fun for our working families and increasing more programs and sites for our seniors.

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

I’m starting to build a relationship with our state and federal legislators and looking forward to working with them to improve the roadways in and out of lower Puna and fix the bottleneck in Keaʻau.

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’m not in support of the Homelessness and Housing Fund. I have always made comments on the creation of the funding and its purpose. Hawaiʻi County Housing and Development to me isn’t the right agency to manage and distribute the funding.

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?

I believe Hawaiʻi County needs to first look at how we will create good-paying jobs so those can afford to purchase some of those homes. Second, Hawaiʻi County needs to create more housing for the medium-income bracket. Right now, Hawaiʻi County is creating lower-income housing which the medium-income bracket group cannot qualify for. Vacation rentals and AirBnB are helping with Hawaiʻi County’s revenue source.

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?

Hawaiʻi County needs to work with our federal and state legislators to get additional funding or grants to help with infrastructure. We also need to work with our federal and state legislators to get an extension on the deadline.

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

As I mentioned earlier, Hawaiʻi County needs to work with our state and federal legislators to come up with a plan/design and funding to start the work.

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?

To me, as long as Honua Ola meets all the requirements by the federal and state. They should be allowed to operate.

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?

Puna Geothermal has right now the permit to produce up to 60 megawatts. Certain requirements were approved by the County Council back in 2012 or so not allowing nighttime drilling. I believe that geothermal power is the firmest power that Hawaiʻi island can depend on 24/7.

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

Right now, Hawaiʻi County Council is trying to create a position that would under the mayor’s direction to coordinate our disaster preparedness and response for the Big Island. This position cannot be under the Civil Defense because this position needs the flexibility.

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

There is so much Hawaiʻi County would need to do, but the problem I see is how Hawaiʻi County will pay for it. For example, our mass transit is supposedly getting 10 more electric buses, and our power source is the HECO grid. Does this make sense?

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?

Again, Hawaiʻi County will need to work with our state and federal legislators to provide funding and support for our farmers on disasters, thief, water and prime lands.