Civil Beat has asked candidates for the primary election on Aug. 8 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Jake Takaya Morrow, Democratic candidate for State House District 21, which includes the communities of St. Luis Heights, Pālolo Valley, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise and Kaimukī.

His opponents are Ranell Asuega-Fualaau, Angie Knight, Andrew Phomsouvanh and Derek Turbin.

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?

This is much more than a job. I am running because I believe Hawaiʻi needs a different kind of representation. I bring a fresh perspective together with a strong understanding of policy and government from teaching American politics at UH Mānoa and working at the Legislature. Most crucially, years of farming and Zen training have instilled within me the discipline, drive and humility needed to remain accountable to my community and committed to improving the lives of those I seek to serve.

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 reality is that freshman lawmakers are often too new to effectively lead or meaningfully shape the Legislature’s policy agenda. While I will contribute all I can to alleviate the cost of living and housing crises, protect against climate-related disasters and diversify our economy, I will also respond directly to the concerns of my district by contacting city and state departments to clarify and correct for deficits in services and delays that are driving up costs for our residents.

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

While I am strongly opposed to monopolies in principle, Hawaiʻi’s unique geography and the financial realities of interisland shipping suggest that a competitive market may not be viable. If meaningful competition is viable, it should be encouraged. If not, then strong public oversight and accountability becomes even more important. My concern is less whether there is a monopoly in this case and more whether residents and businesses are receiving reliable service at reasonable 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?

I am proud to be the only candidate in my race that has vowed to never accept corporate money. Naturally then, the clear winner for me is SB 2471, which effectively bans any corporation from spending money in our elections starting in 2027. SB 3125 passed but cut the tax credit for rooftop solar, which I think is dangerously short-sighted for a state with a 2045 100% renewable energy goal. SB 3028 would have increased taxes on luxury homes while lowering them for local homeowners, which I support.

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?

We need folks to run for office that live at a higher standard of personal ethics and integrity. This is not just a job for anybody. It is a duty and responsibility to one’s wider community and state, something I take very seriously and very few can do well. Trust is gained over years and lost in a day. We start again by electing officials with backgrounds that demonstrate a clear quality of character who are willing to take a stand against corruption and model ethical leadership for our keiki.

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?

From my time at the Legislature, it was readily apparent to me that our lawmakers work and respond to the issues reactively rather than proactively. It’s easy to score political points passing a bill that appropriates funds to a disaster relief effort. It’s much more difficult to pass something that will prevent or reduce the effects of severe weather events in the future while providing a comprehensive plan and coordinated response, yet this is what we need and what I will devote myself to.

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?

While working at the Senate, I drafted bills for the Agriculture and Environment Committee, which acquainted me with Hawaiʻi’s most urgent climate challenges. We must treat adaptation as a basic responsibility of government. I would prioritize funding for drainage, wildfire prevention, shoreline resilience, watershed protection and critical infrastructure. To address costs, I would prioritize federal and visitor-generated revenues to reduce the cost burden on local residents.

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 20-bill-limit for most members while the Senate has no limit. But it is not my experience that the number of bills is the problem. It is almost effortless to kill bills. Many are never heard after being introducted and a committee chair simply chooses what they want to hear. Everything left unchosen dies automatically. Instead, I think our lawmakers should utilize the interim period wisely to have meaningful and low-stakes debate to develop policy to to save valuable session time.

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. Lawmakers should have access to realistic fiscal analyses before voting on legislation, particularly for bills with significant budget impacts. While estimates will never be perfect, greater transparency helps legislators make informed decisions, improves public trust and reduces the likelihood of unintended costs. Good policymaking requires understanding both the benefits of a proposal and how it will be paid for. Otherwise, lawmakers may not fully know what they are voting for.

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 agree that the absence of term limits allows legislators to hold office for decades, and that this is a problem. However, incumbents also benefit from name recognition and long-standing relationships with their constituents. I support prospective term limits that grandfather current officeholders, as this may offer the most realistic path to meaningful reform. Lawmakers targeted by term limits are often in a position to prevent passage and they typically do so every session.

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

Hawaiʻi’s public school system has ranked near the bottom nationally for decades. I believe every child deserves access to a quality education regardless of their family’s income and that parents shouldn’t feel forced to turn to private schools to find it. I will propose legislation to invest in our teachers, raising pay above the national average, provide housing assistance and strengthening local teacher pipelines, while targeting early learning through the creation of literacy specialists.

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

Not only is Hawaiʻi heavily reliant on tourism, experts agree that tourism has plateaued as an economic driver for the state. Further, we import 90% of our food and rely on more fossil fuel for our energy needs than any other state. We need to make the most of what we actually have to ween off our dependency on the mainland. That means investing heavily in public education (including the UH system), installing solar panels on every rooftop and expanding local agricultural production.

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 am honored to be a candidate for my district, which I see as a remaining community stronghold of a once vibrant middle class. I would pursue immediate and temporary relief by exempting groceries, home utilities and insurance from the general excise tax for residents while increasing conveyance taxes on luxury homes. Longer term, we must invest heavily in education, increase the urban housing supply while respecting conservation land and support our local and small businesses.