Editor’s note: Civil Beat has asked candidates for the primary election to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Terez Amato, incumbent Democratic candidate for state House District 11, covering parts of Māʻalaea and Kīhei, Keawakapu, Wailea, Mākena, Kanahena and Keoneoio.

She is unopposed and will face Republican Sheila Walker in the November general election.

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?

As a single mother of four and a twice-elected Democrat, I have an intimate understanding of the challenges facing Hawaiʻi’s working families. I am the only elected official in Hawai’i that has never accepted a penny from ANY corporation or lobbyist. Maui deserves a representative who is working for the people, not for big corporations. I am #WorkingForThePeople I am #NotForSale. Why this job? Although it is challenging, helping others every day makes this the best job in the world!

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?

Affordability is my top priority! We completed 465 affordable housing units in Kīhei, set aside $250 million for housing infrastructure statewide, reduced your taxes and increased tax breaks for working families! I fought for bills to protect small businesses, disabled and kūpuna, funded education, healthcare gaps and rent supplements, reduced energy costs and successfully fought a new state gas tax. I fought to protect your environment and way of life at every opportunity. I’ll continue.

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

No: I do not support any monopolies, especially for critical services like providing food, energy, transportation and other goods to our neighbor islands. Price-fixing, and other anticompetitive business practices hurt our families and all sectors of our economy. Competition keeps prices in check and is important for affordability.

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?

Most important bill: SB2471 prohibits corporate control of elections. I wrote two bills that should have passed: HB2442 Right to Park: Increases accessible parking for disabled and kūpuna. HB2537 Patients Bill of Rights: Protects patients’ right to privacy, timely care and transparent coverage decisions. Two of the worst: HB1823 allows unrestricted development in coastal areas without adequate environmental review and SB2401 shoreline armoring, accelerates beach erosion, harming coastal ecosystems.

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?

I was one of only six state legislators that wrote letters demanding the House open an investigation, and consider the citizens’ petition. That did not happen. The Senate did not even publicly discuss the issue. We should expect and must demand transparency and address trust issues openly or people will lose faith. An independent transparent investigation is a must.

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 requested/received $7 million for flood and fire mitigation, Axis deer fencing and preventing brown water events. After recent storms, I wrote a 21-page briefing for the Speaker of the House, the mayor and governor so that Kīhei will get its fair share of relief funding. I met with the governor to make sure we immediately provide housing for those who are unable to live in their current homes due to damage. I also requested emergency funds for Maui County. I’ll continue this work.

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 am an advocate for managed retreat, transitioning to renewable energy, and I vigorously oppose energy solutions involving methane (natural gas). I have repeatedly proposed zero or low interest loan funding to install solar on residences and businesses, addressing making long term costs affordable and providing people with a net savings while stimulating our economy. I will fight to reinstate the solar tax credit that was cut in 2026. I’ll introduce a hardening homes bill to help homeowners.

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?

In the 2025-26 session 5,133 bills were introduced, 520 passed. That is a lot to read! There is in fact a limit on the number of bill introductions by House members. The Senate has unlimited bill introductions and the governor’s (Executive) package has no limit. I don’t like overregulation. Elected officials should choose their bills carefully. I do.

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 must have realistic cost assessments. The price tag is usually determined by the finance committee or impacted departments although legislators may make independent assessments. A dedicated agency like the LRB (Legislative Reference Bureau) or similar should be enabled to perform cost analysis studies. But with a short session the studies may take too long. This analysis is a complex task and another reason to have longer legislative sessions.

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. This job is public service and is not meant to be a lifetime career. Legislators who stay for decades may know a lot but they lose touch with the people they represent. We desperately need new creative solutions for modern problems. I will self impose my own term limit and support term limit legislation.

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

1) We must allocate resources to attract and retain teachers e.g. public housing. I have at every opportunity supported teacher raises and union requests. 2) We need to recruit more teaching and support staff. 3) Our decaying infrastructure is ignored by DOE (estimated at $1 billion in backlog). We need the school facilities authority or similar to be empowered to fix roofs, moldy buildings, lack of disability access etc. 4) I want to see the Kīhei Kūlanihāko’i High School finished asap.

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

We must invest in education. Thirty states have free community college! Hawai’i needs this and more vocational training. I want free college education for those who train to fill current shortages including teaching, healthcare and other fields. I support free tuition for those who remain in Hawai’i working in such fields for a four-year minimum following graduation. I support increasing the four year programs on Maui so our students don’t have to leave their families to get an education.

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?

As a single mother with four kids I’m laser-focused on affordability. I supported six bills in 2026 to make housing more affordable, voted against a fuel tax and for doubling the earned income tax credit, food tax credit and increasing the child and dependent care credit because families matter. I wrote laws to retain medical providers to keep rates low and voted to pickup the slack for Medicare and Medicaid caused by a $3.2 billion cut by Republicans. On Maui we continue to build affordable housing.