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 Keoni Kuoha, a Democratic candidate for state House District 12, covering parts of Keahua and Haliʻimaile, Pukalani, Makawao, Pūlehu, Waiakoa, Kua and Kēōkea.

He is running against Democratic incumbent Kyle Yamashita in the Democratic primary. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Dan Johnson 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?

Our challenges are growing. So, we need leaders with courage, vision, and experience to address them. We need leaders who are connected with community, able to work through complex issues, and open to working with all stakeholders. This is the leadership approach that I have developed in nearly 30 years of service as an educator, nonprofit leader, natural resource manager, housing advocate and cultural practitioner. Now, I want to expand my service to address our challenges on a larger scale.

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?

Wai. We’re taking water from East Maui. Usage exceeds supply. We have 1,424 applicants for 3,612 water meters, some waiting decades. Water restrictions are yearly. And with climate change, we can expect less rainfall in the future. The county is working on solutions. We need the state to be a good partner. And we need community at the center of the conversation. First six months? I would connect with key state, county and community leaders, learn their perspectives, then bring everyone together.

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

No. We need competition. But service requirements make it hard for companies to enter the market. So, the state should support emergence of a local company that specializes in shipping services to the smaller ports. There are some upfront capital costs that the state could help with, but with the right business plan, this could be a win-win for everyone. Then, larger companies wouldn’t service the smaller ports, they reduce their costs, and the Public Utilities Commission lowers shipping rates.

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?

Green Fee project funding ($130 million) was the most important legislative action. It was mostly a success, but failed in key ways. I served on the Green Fee Advisory Council this year and helped lead development of the project evaluation process. It’s critical that funds are invested in projects that increase resilience in the face of disaster and climate change, and the majority of allocations do just that. However, about a quarter of the funds are not being wisely invested. This is unacceptable.

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?

Trust is broken when leaders protect the institution instead of the public interest. The bribe was bad. Worse: over 900 citizens petitioned for answers, and the House filed the petition without debate. So, three things. 1) Pass real ethics reform with independent enforcement. 2) Full transparency—open the process, end the closed-door deals. 3) When people ask their government a hard question, government needs to answer it. Accountability isn’t a threat to good government. It IS good government.

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?

Strong communities are fundamental to disaster response and recovery—it’s the most important lesson I’ve taken from my work in response to the 2023 Maui wildfires. When systems failed, neighbors didn’t. So, as a lawmaker, I’d invest in that strength: Funding nonprofits, local response training, and reliable backup power and communications. I’d work to strengthen the networks that bring the Upcountry community together. And I’d make sure resilience planning starts with the people who live here.

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 would improve Act 96, the Green Fee law. Here’s what I’d do. 1) Focus Act 96 on hazard mitigation, infrastructure resilience and environmental stewardship. 2) Create a Green Fee fund and allow creativity in finance mechanisms, including multi-year funding. 3) Strengthen the project evaluation process and enable incentive programs for property owners. 4) Empower the administration (not the Legislature) to determine allocations. With these improvements, we can invest now in a better future.

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?

No. The problem isn’t the number of bills—it’s the process. A cap sounds efficient, but every bill is someone’s issue and limiting them limits people’s access to government. Solutions? 1) Leadership. Skilled leaders tap into majority sentiment, create priorities and coordinate action. 2) Year-long legislative session. More time allows more research and discussion. It also enables more people to serve in the Legislature, since holding a job for only eight months a year is not an option for many.

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?

Absolutely. This is part of the transparency issue we have in our Legislature, and it simply doesn’t make sense. Ignoring price tags isn’t how you run a household, a nonprofit or a state. I’ve managed budgets and grants for decades—you plan with the most accurate estimates possible. So, let’s finally stand up an independent Office of the Legislative Analyst to give lawmakers honest cost estimates. It won’t be perfect. Actual costs will shift. But the price tag must be part of the policy debate.

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?

Yes. Service in the Legislature should not be a life-long career, and the opportunity to serve needs to extend to more people to include the fuller range of experience our communities hold. When the same seats stay filled for decades, fresh ideas wait at the door. So, I look forward to championing a term limits bill. Not to push anyone out, but to keep the door open. New voices bring energy and renewed connections to community. Public service should circulate. That’s how democracy stays healthy.

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

As an educator, I have long dreamed of a better school system. To achieve this, we need to expand our investment in education, which requires expanding the tax base that funds it. So, let’s invite counties to partner with the state to supplement teacher salaries, training and facilities. There’s significant revenue for counties in taxing second-homes and investment properties. In turn, the DOE could shift their function from control to coordination, allowing greater local governance of schools.

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

Economic development is a through line in my career, and I have come to see clearly: We must reorient our economy around place and community. So, let’s invest where we’ll always have need: food and energy. And let’s make starting and running a business easier. There’s lots of informal economic activity in our communities. Let’s create incentives for entrepreneurs to grow and formalize these businesses. Growing our own and powering ourselves keeps wealth here, builds resilience and creates jobs.

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?

I’m part of that 60%, and many friends and family are, too. Solutions? In the short-term, we need to remove the GE tax on essentials (groceries, healthcare, hygiene, etc.) and shift the tax burden to non-residents and the wealthy—part of their contribution to this special place. Long-term, we need government to invest in infrastructure, create a secondary housing market for Hawaiʻi residents (e.g. Vail InDEED), and build lots of permanently and truly affordable rental housing.