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 Lloyd Enriquez, nonpartisan candidate for Hawaiʻi County Council Member District 4 which includes Lower Puna and Pāhoa.

He is running against Shannon Burrows, Cyd Hoffeld and Eileen Ohara 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?

As a native Hawaiian descendant of Puna, my purpose and priority is a safe, prosperous future for our community. I have spent my life working in school safety, and I know the challenges our people face. I feel our people need someone that can listen well, understand the needs and take action. My generational connections to Hawaiʻi are an asset, but my dedication to my grandchildren having financial, environmental and cultural security is what fuels my commitment to this opportunity.

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?

The biggest issues in our county are waste management, food security, and emergency response. All of these issues need funding. Therefore, my priority for the first six months is to deep dive into the budget, and seek ways to increase our revenue without burdening our residents. It will take an open mind and creative solutions that leverage collaboration with the State and Federal government, as well as the private sector. We must think about the future and what it will take for security.

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

I support the study for Puna Alternative Routes, and look forward to the outcome of the upcoming study. It is critical that we look at the long term impacts of an alternate route, and do not rush into a project that will not address the traffic concerns or violate other federal environmental/historical protections or the Homestead Act. We must also monitor and maintain emergency routes that can be utilized in times of crisis.

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?

The fund should be extended if there is an evaluation and analysis on the efficacy of the current efforts. It is critical to continue what is having positive impacts, and adjust the strategy on expenditures that have not achieved the desired outcomes. Working closely with state partners to address mental health, addiction issues and Hawaiian Homelands leases will also have an important role in addressing this crisis.

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?

The tax code can be utilized to impact this issue. We could increase the tax rate on vacation rentals to both increase revenue and deter the proliferation; at the same time, we can continue the tax incentives for affordable housing. There are also other ways to support housing opportunities that are truly affordable. We need to address the “brain drain” of Native Hawaiians forced to leave their home communities by making it possible to stay here.

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?

This is an excellent opportunity to create a new market that contributes to a circular economy. Hawaiʻi Community College is starting their first cohort of Wastewater Treatment Specialist that will earn a certificate enabling them to convert cesspools. This is an opportunity for 49,000 local jobs that contribute to a cleaner environment for the generations to come.

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

We need to work with our state highways partners to discuss the expansion of the Panaʻewa stretch to become three lanes in each direction. This would alleviate the bottleneck that occurs during high traffic times.

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?

The need for renewable energy should not come at massive environmental costs. There is a need to consider the impacts of industrial energy generation in our communities, and how it impacts the long-term health and viability of our island. If Hu Honua is not lowering rates or working toward our green energy goals, then it is not a good option.

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?

Energy independence is a key component of Hawaiʻi security. However, in our efforts to “go green” and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, we must be mindful that we are not creating large expensive problems for our future. There must be support and consent from the host communities for industrial energy production, and the Geothermal Royalties must be accessible and directly beneficial. Third-party monitoring and reporting could go a long way in addressing environmental and health concerns.

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

As a generational Hawaiian of Puna, this is my expertise. Our people have a successful model of how to endure and recover from both man-made and natural disasters. I would like to utilize these models in creating an island-wide response plan. My entire adult career has been in the area of safety, and I have developed safety plans for schools here in Puna. Risk/threat assessments and response planning are tasks that have passion and pride in accomplishing.

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

We must address food security on our island. It is critical to our future that our ag lands are producing food for our own people to consume, as opposed to exporting delicacies. I ka wa ma mua, i ka wa ma hope. To look forward, we must look to the past. Our kūpuna were experts in food production and we must reinstate these practices so that our children can survive the uncertainty of the future.

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?

Food security is security. We must prevent our ag lands being used for non-agriculture purposes. We also must provide incentives for food products that stay here in Hawaiʻi. Another issue is assisting our farmers and co-ops by creating or supporting efforts to create value-added products. As a county, we have an obligation to address agricultural theft, which has been having a devastating impact on yields. I support our state goals of using local foods in our public school cafeterias.