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 Mahina Poepoe, the Democratic incumbent candidate for state House District 13, covering Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, part of Kahuui, Haʻikū, Peʻahi, Huelo, Nahiku, Hana and Kīpahulu.

She is running unopposed. She will face Republican Robin D. Vanderpool 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?

I see myself first as a policymaker and advocate for our people and ‘āina, rather than a politician. I believe in creating sound policy that benefits the present and protects the generations that will inherit the outcomes of our decisions. I know that the government doesn’t always get it right. I believe that real leadership means being honest about our shortcomings and using the power entrusted to us wisely.

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?

Representing a multi-island district renders diverse issues that cannot be summed into a single challenge. My record shows that I’ve introduced legislation, taken positions and delivered results that address priorities directly from residents of our district. Invasive species, disaster preparedness, natural resource protection, rural healthcare and education will remain key priorities in the coming term and will be reflected through the legislation I introduce.

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

No, I do not. I’ve consistently voted against legislation to increase interisland shipping rates by water carrier and I’ve appealed to the PUC opposing any rate increases. Reliability is also an issue we’ve periodically experienced. Competition is absolutely needed and should explore what a government operated water carrier or a community-owned cooperative system could look like. We also need to keep working on reducing reliance on imported goods to better withstand disruptions.

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?

Important that passed include: Citizens United, immigrant rights and increased partial public financing bills. Wish passed include: My Molokaʻi biosecurity bill to establish and staff a plant quarantine facility, compassionate release which could save millions of dollars annually and is morally the right thing to do; transferring burial council appointments to OHA to restore function; OHA bill to prohibit live-fire military training on state lands. Wish failed include: Solar tax credit repeal.

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?

The $35,000 scandal may be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the public deserves to know the identity of the person, but public trust in government had been eroding long before that. Term limits and campaign finance reforms, including fundraising and spending limits, would help. This past session I co-sponsored bills to reduce corruption, including extending the statute of limitations for campaign finance violations and making it more feasible to participate in partial public financing.

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?

During disasters the community is the first to respond and we need to better support these efforts. Land use decisions should be holistic and not attempt to circumvent policies designed to keep communities safe. We set ambitious climate change and renewable energy goals that we need to prioritize actually achieving. Our watersheds and streams need better stewardship. Every community should have a hurricane grade shelter. These are areas I will focus on to increase resilience and preparedness.

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’ve been a strong advocate for the environment at the Legislature, including proposing the right to a stable climate in our Constitution, and fighting to uphold and strengthen environmental policies which often come under attack. My approach centers on mālama ‘āina. What is good for the land is good for the people. Areas of focus include culturally appropriate renewable energy, biosecurity, preparing coastal areas for sea level rise and reducing flooding, erosion, and runoff.

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?

The House has a limit of 10–20 bills per member, with exceptions. The Senate has no limit. I support fairly limiting both chambers. I also support a longer session to allow more committee hearings, improve deliberation and reduce using time constraints as a mechanism to force compromises or rush hearings. The concentration of power within the current system also contributes to the chaos especially in the final days, fueling political “horsetrading” at the expense of the public interest.

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?

I support having as much information as possible when making decisions, including the costs and potential benefits. Not just fiscally, and not just in the immediate term, but also the long-term costs and the costs of doing nothing. For example, Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle likely could have been eradicated for less than $10 million when first detected. That investment was not made, and now the costs are exponentially higher economically, environmentally and culturally, and eradication is unlikely.

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 and supported legislation proposing them. I believe elections should be decided on the merits and ideas of candidates, and term limits can help level the playing field. Achieving term limits requires a constitutional amendment that must be approved by the Legislature before being put before voters. Enough legislators who support term limits (or at least support putting it to a public vote) must be elected to give voters the chance to make the final decision.

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

Investing in public education is one of the best investments we can make in our future. A measure I was proud to help pass this year was providing teachers with long overdue automatic step increases. I think one of the most important things we can do is listen to what our educators are telling us. Conversations with our educators and the insight they provide have been invaluable in shaping my advocacy and priorities and have directly translated into legislation I’ve introduced.

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

We need to support our hyperlocal economies that keep resources circulating as close to home as possible. Areas of focus include long-term care, where we can build industry while caring for our kūpuna; regenerative agriculture, where we can rebuild our subsistence economy; culturally appropriate renewable energy that reduces need for imported fuel; small businesses and skilled trades; and investing in environmental protection with the urgency it deserves.

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 stand behind my response to this question two years ago and would add or reiterate that I support raising the minimum wage to a level that actually supports working families, cracking down on wage theft, eliminating taxes on groceries and expanding rental, mortgage, child care and elder care assistance. I also support exploring Universal Basic Income, moving toward Medicare for All, and providing free tuition at UH community colleges and satellite campuses.