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 Ashley Olson, a Democratic candidate for state House District 14, covering Kahakuloa, Waiheʻe parts of Waiehu and Māʻalaea, Olowalu, Lahaina, Lahainaluna, Kāʻanapali, Mahinahina Camp, Kahana and Honokahua.

She is running against Democratic candidates Kanamu Balinbin and Sne Patel. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Green Party candidate Pa’ele Kiakona and Republican incumbent Elle Cochran 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?

For over 30 years I’ve been a dedicated member of my community, learning the needs of my students, their families, and my colleagues. I’ve advocated for those stakeholders with decision-makers at the Board of Education, the Legislature, and in the media. I served on the Maui County Charter Commission, where I appreciated the opportunity to make an impact through policy. My decades of experience uniquely position me to represent and serve our community from Day One in the Legislature.

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?

Lack of housing and the cost of living have hit my district hard. Many homes lost in the Lahaina fire remain unrestored, while construction costs continue to rise. To make long-term rentals more attractive investments than short-term, I would work with my fellow legislators to offer GET exemptions or income tax credits for landlords who lock in multi-year leases with local families at or below AMI thresholds. Similarly, I would pursue tax relief for low-income residents on necessities like food.

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

No, I don’t believe a shipping monopoly has done local residents any favors. Not only is it expensive to import nearly all of our goods but a monopoly leaves us even more vulnerable to worldwide supply chain issues when we need to be giving residents flexibility and affordable options. At the same time, I support initiatives that develop local sources of products to increase our self-reliance and improve financial outcomes for Hawaii.

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?

The preservation of income tax relief for families is a victory, as is the prohibition of local law enforcement agencies or officials putting residents at risk by working with federal immigration enforcement. I see automatic voter registration and restrictions on corporate influence in elections as critical to preserving our democratic processes in Hawai’i. I wish the property tax surcharge on investment properties had passed as it could help shift tax burdens away from those who are struggling.

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 Legislature needs to look at strengthening ethics rules, improving transparency around lobbying and campaign spending, and making it easier for the public to follow, understand, and participate in the legislative process. I take it very seriously as a candidate that my goal is to sustain and improve the lives of my constituents, not line my own pocket in the pursuit of power.

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?

We need functional plans for disasters before they strike, including robust evacuation routes and emergency centers. As a lawmaker, I will prioritize funding fire and flood mitigation as well as investing in a streamlined and culturally responsive intake system for affected families to receive timely and effective support. Lastly, I will work to ensure our emergency management agencies rely on independent academic research and proven experts to craft and implement policies.

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?

The painful lesson of 2023 showed us that we must shore up the electrical grid, improve evacuation routes, increase water and fire prevention capacity, and improve land use decisions. Adaptation costs money, but doing nothing costs far more and repeated disaster recovery is soul-crushing. There is opportunity to work with our Congressional delegation to combine federal, state, and local funding to address these needs. We also must require those who profit from our people to help defray costs.

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?

Rather than limit diversity and innovation in democracy, we should focus on improving the process itself, so legislators can flexibly respond to the needs of their communities. For legislators who represent districts with common causes, collaboration and cooperation from the beginning of the session might help to consolidate similar proposals. Alternatively, prioritizing bills with multiple co-sponsors might encourage lawmakers to work together.

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 championed this idea as a Maui County Charter Commissioner and continue to strongly support having a credible assessment of the costs and benefits of proposed legislation. I do recognize, however, there would likely be a cost to establishing a department capable of providing legislators with this information in a timely manner. That said, understanding the true cost of a proposal can fundamentally shift the conversation and help us identify our real priorities, thus reducing long-term costs.

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 would support consecutive term limits with a break-in-service requirement because a system with reasonable term limits and strong ethics protections may be an improvement over the current system. It should be contingent upon safeguards to prevent officials from leaving office for a lucrative position and then returning to office to advocate on behalf of a special interest employer.

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

I want to see a dedicated funding stream that will improve our classrooms, allowing us to recruit and retain fully-trained, well-paid teachers and administrators, expand access to early learning, and ensure our schools have modern facilities and the resources they need to succeed. As a representative I would work for and support initiatives to build strong school-family partnerships, because maintaining family members as active participants is a cost-effective and enormous benefit to education.

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

We have to broaden our economic base and invest in our strengths, including agriculture, renewable energy, technology, healthcare, and education. The University of Hawai`i is one of our greatest economic assets, with tremendous potential for growth and impact on local communities. I support strategic investment so that UH can expand research and sustainable workforce training. We also must increase internet connectivity across the state so locals can be competitive for lucrative remote 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?

This pervasive struggle and its resulting stress take a toll not just on financial stability but our residents’ mental health as well. We need a balance between generating enough revenue to aid low-income residents and ensuring that middle-class families are not overburdened by taxes. I am prepared to work with my colleagues to make sure corporations that benefit from Hawaii’s resources and economy contribute a fair share toward the costs of maintaining the communities in which they operate.