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 Sne Patel, 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.

He is running against Democratic candidates Kanamu Balinbin and Ashley Olson. 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 me, this is not just a job. It is another way to serve West Maui at a higher level. During Covid and after the fires, I helped create solutions like the restaurant reopening plan and fire-recovery transfer license program for displaced businesses. That track record, combined with my professional and small business experience, fits the Legislature, where success depends on working with others. As a husband, father and someone rebuilding, I understand the challenges West Maui families face.

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?

The biggest issue is making sure West Maui does not get left behind. Housing, water, roads, schools, small business recovery and affordability are all connected. In my first six months, I would focus on keeping state funding moving, removing barriers to rebuilding and strengthening coordination between state, county and community partners. I would also look at recovery models from comparable communities to help residents rebuild faster and resilient.

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

Relying on just one entity for our transportation needs has its challenges. I do not support a system where neighbor island families and businesses feel stuck with high costs and limited options. At the same time, interisland shipping is essential, so reliability matters. I would support a serious review of competition, pricing and oversight so we protect service while making sure costs are not unfairly passed on to residents and small businesses.

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?

For me, most important were bills focused on housing, infrastructure and affordability. House Bill 1800 invested significant funding into housing, Senate Bill 3219 could help counties fund housing infrastructure if it passes in November. And House Bill 1740’s resident deed restriction approach is worth building on. I was hoping to see more progress on long-term housing funding and disaster preparedness. We also need to focus on bills with clear benefits, measurable outcomes and responsible costs.

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 rebuilt through transparency, stronger ethics rules and less behind the scenes decision making. Especially with recovery and infrastructure money, the public should be able to see where funds are going and what is actually getting done.

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?

Safety is on everyone’s mind. For West Maui, we need multiple evacuation routes, better emergency communication, stronger evacuation planning and more resilient infrastructure before the next disaster strikes. That includes backup power, stronger water systems, safer roads, reliable cell service and community resilience hubs where residents can access food, medicine, power and information. I would push for funding, clear responsibilities and accountability.

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?

No matter what label people use, our climate feels different and more extreme. Fires, flooding, drought and coastal impacts are already affecting West Maui. If we are not prepared and proactive, the costs will only be higher later. My priority is protecting our community by strengthening utility systems, improving brush management, securing water infrastructure and investing in resilience before disaster strikes. Federal resilience grants can help reduce the burden on taxpayers.

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?

I do not necessarily support strict limits, but I do support a more rigorous screening process. With thousands of bills introduced each session, it becomes difficult for lawmakers and the public to fully understand what is moving. Hawaiʻi should encourage stronger committee review early in the session, which would hopefully lead to more meaningful debate and less last-minute scrambling.

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. If a bill sounds good but no one knows what it will cost, that is not responsible. Families and businesses have to live within real budgets, and the Legislature should too. Requiring realistic fiscal analyses would help lawmakers make better decisions and help the public understand the tradeoffs before legislation moves too far.

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 am open to the discussion, but term limits alone will not solve everything. The bigger issue is giving voters more choices and making elections more competitive. Experience can be valuable, but no seat should feel owned by anyone. I support reforms that make it easier for new candidates to run and compete. Ultimately, the people should decide who represents them.

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

As a father with children ranging from elementary school to college, education is personal to me. We need to support teachers, improve facilities and better connect education to real career opportunities in Hawaiʻi. For West Maui, I support expanding the UH satellite presence with programs focused on trades, agriculture and workforce training, while strengthening partnerships with public schools, unions and local employers.

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

Tourism will always be important, but it cannot be our only economic engine. We need to grow agriculture, clean energy, healthcare, technology, film, cultural industries, skilled trades and small businesses. In West Maui, rebuilding should create long-term local jobs and opportunities, not just temporary construction work. Diversification has to mean real opportunities that help local families stay here.

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?

Affordability is on everyone’s mind, and I feel it too as a husband, father and someone rebuilding. We need more housing people can actually afford, lower energy costs, child care support, tax relief that reaches working families and workforce training that leads to higher-paying jobs. Every policy should be measured by a simple question: does it help local people build a future and stay in Hawaiʻi?