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 Alan Lloyd, nonpartisan candidate for Maui County Council, Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū District.

His opponents in the Aug. 8 primary election are James Forrest, Randy Konohia, Ashley Lindsey and Marvin Moniz.

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 the academic, professional and community background needed for the position. This includes a Master of Social Work in policy and planning, legal experience working with a city attorney in housing, policy development for a police commission and a state Legislature and city council. My kuleana includes, reading tutor at Wailuku elementary, a Big Brother, and organizing residents affected by the fire. I want the job as the council majority have not done enough to tackle affordable housing.

What is the biggest issue facing Maui County, and what is the first thing you would do to address it in the first six months after being elected?

The biggest issue facing Maui County is the lack of affordable housing, which includes the high cost of purchasing and renting. In the first six months, I would expand the number of affordable homes by funding the expansion of local housing community land trusts, including funding in the 2027-2028 county budget. Land trust homes are a means to expand affordable home ownership. Second, I would work to stabilize rents, through rent stabilization legislation, exempting owner occupied landlords.

Here’s one question from a constituent: What is your position on upcountry speed humps? Would you remove them? Why or why not?

Speed humps are meant to slow drivers from speeding down a road. First, I’d want to know whether the upcountry humps are doing that, as it would be expensive to remove them. I see the usefulness of humps to create safe roads. Second, at the same time there may be too many humps on upcountry roads. Information from the Mayor’s Office and community members would form my decision. Though, if the majority of the community feel like there are too many humps, I would vote to remove some.

The county now has a law on the books to effectively phase out several thousand vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts starting in 2029. The companion measure to grandfather in more than half of those properties has since been rejected by all three planning commissions. What would you do as a council member about this?

First, Bill 9 is the result of the council majority not preserving affordable housing. An affordable housing plan was finished but not followed. To address affordable housing, Bill 9 was passed. I would not repeal Bill 9. Second, the companion measure will be decided before I take office. Third, those 7,000 short-term rentals, converting to long-term housing, will not be affordable. Fourth, if any short-term are converted to long-term, I would work to cover them by rent stabilization.

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?

First, we need a steady source of farmworker labor. To remedy that I help create stable farmworker housing. Second, I would work to legalize farmworker housing. Third, weather effects farming. I would create an emergency fund for farmers effected by weather, to access within a week. If the farmer is using agricultural water or has a grant, they can access the funding. Fourth, we need more stores that sell local food. Giving those stores a tax exemption would go a long way.

The county has been moving forward with plans to bring much more of Maui’s water supply under public ownership instead of private. What steps would you take to get a better handle on Maui’s water future?

First, I need an inventory of the supply, who it goes to and who owns it. I’d support the county purchasing the water rights from private owners. Second, I would ensure there was a timeline that East Maui water shift control of water rights to the local authority. Third, based on that authority, make sure the county is pursuing longterm water leases from the state. Fourth, in lieu of the friction and delay, I would work with the community board to speed up the process.

Overtourism can degrade the environment, contribute to wear and tear on infrastructure, generate traffic and disrupt neighborhoods. How well is Maui managing the tourism industry that drives its economy? What would you do differently?

First, we need to keep to the agreement of the percentage of local population to tourists. I don’t think that Maui is really managing the tourism industry, the large hotels manage it. Second, my goal if I’m elected is to start the process of diversifying the Maui economy with community brainstorming alternative industries. For example, if we stimulated more solar production, to ease ourselves of our dependence on oil for electricity, we would create more jobs in the solar and wind industry.

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

Maui should prepare a community plan, using a community planning process, to get in front of climate change. Schedule community forums to brainstorm what would go in the plan. That encourages community members that have expertise to share their knowledge and help brainstorm solutions. That community plan should be adopted by the council and each committee chair be prepared to develop legislation that would be presented for council approval.

Maui has been targeted for enforcement by ICE agents. What will be the position of your office to requests for more cooperation between county law enforcement and federal authorities?

As an organizing-leadership committee member of Maui Indivisible, the position of my office will be no cooperation between county law enforcement and federal authorities, including any joint task forces between the two bodies, that relate to ICE or federal agents in rounding up our neighbors.

The $1.6 billion federal Community Block Development Grant is the largest disaster loan in U.S. history, but it falls far short of the estimates for recovery from the 2023 wildfires. What would you do to make those dollars count?

The main focus should be to rebuild the multifamily housing quickly. To make those dollars count and ensure the money reaches those who need it. An oversight committee should be formed and tasked with this work, which would include the reconstruction and expansion of the 10 housing projects lost in the fire, should be supported by the CDBG-DR to hasten the reconstruction and recovery of rental spaces. Remember 80% of the housing lost were rentals.

The cost of living on Maui continues to remain high. How can county government help working and middle-class people buy homes, pay rent or otherwise afford to live and work on the island?

County government can recognize that it is expensive on Maui and take responsibility for not doing enough. First, to expand the number of affordable homes and condos, triple the funding to the affordable housing fund. Second, fund the expansion of housing community land trusts, so more properties can be purchased, via the 27-28 county budget. Land trust homes expand affordable home ownership. Third, to stabilize rents, pass rent stabilization, exempting owner-occupied landlords.

What is your assessment of programs combating invasive species in Maui Nui and what other measures would you advocate for you in office?

There needs to be an expansion to combat invasive species, by expanding MISC (Maui Invasive Species Committee). This would include steps to counter proliferation, working based on a community plan. As the farmers tell me, invasive species like deer, frogs and torch ginger, take over farmland. With a community developed plan, organizations like MISC can focus on the most pressing invasive species, preserving our farmland so we can continue to increase the production of local food.