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 Adrian Tam, incumbent Democratic candidate for state House District 24, which includes Waikīkī.

His primary opponents are Democratic candidate Bulla Eastman and nonpartisan candidate Jonathan Clausen.

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 neighborhood deserves steady leadership, practical solutions and someone who listens. Drawing from experience both in the public and private sector, I have worked to deliver results on the issues that matter most, while fighting for the people of District 24. I also recognize that there is still so much more to do because people are still struggling, trying to keep up with the struggles of daily life, I’m right there with you. I’m running for the future of Hawaiʻi.

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 number one issue I keep hearing from my constituents continues to be noise pollution. In 2023, Act 63, which would establish a noise detection camera pilot program to crack down on illegally modified noisy vehicles. In 2026, DOT installed them and began the data collecting phase. When reelected, I intend on introducing a bill to make the pilot program permanent and allow for the program to enforce on illegal modified noisy vehicles.

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

I recognize that there needs to be a balance between ensuring consistent reliable shipping to all neighbor islands and ensuring fair rates are charged, which is why I support regulating the industry to ensure fairness. For example, the PUC requires that an interisland carrier serve all islands, not just where they can make a profit. Other regulations include requirements for a minimum number of sailings per week to ensure consistent service.

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?

There were many important bills that passed this legislative session, such as Senate Bill 2471, meant to curtail Citizens United to get corporate PAC money out of politics. However, House Bill 2505 is a very important bill for our neighborhood that passed the Legislature. House Bill 1588 should have passed to make Act 63 (2023) permanent, but I understand we need more time to collect data.

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?

I believe that the Legislature needs to be a full-time legislature and thus prohibit legislators from holding outside employment, which would prevent conflicts of interests. I would like to see us ban fundraising altogether during the legislative session. Right now, non-incumbents can hold fundraisers, and that allows for special interests to threaten sitting elected officials to donate to their challengers to pass their bills.

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?

The Waikīkī Resilience and Adaptation Project (WRAP) which is designed to develop long-term adaptation strategies for sea-level rise, coastal erosion and groundwater inundation over a 50 to 100 years. This was passed by the Legislature in 2023, and when reelected, I will continue to work with the researchers and stakeholders on the project. I will also continue to hold town halls on disaster preparedness, while supporting and proposing disaster mitigation initiatives and proposals.

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?

One of the biggest steps we took to combat climate change was passing the green fee. I was able to work with the visitor industry and other stakeholders to help pass a bill that will fund sustainable tourism, climate resilience, disaster mitigation, and environmental stewardship. When it comes to addressing costs, I believe the key is bringing people together, listening to concerns and finding a path forward. That is how we were able to pass the green fee.

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 already limits the amount of bills that we can introduce, though members can request for a waiver. I don’t think we should limit the number of bills introduced because I do not believe that there is a shortage of ideas for Hawaiʻi.

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. Having a realistic price tag on legislation will help us ensure that we are funding proposals and programs adequately and make it easier for us to balance the budget.

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?

Indifferent. I used to support term limits because I thought it would bring in fresh perspectives, but since I’ve been elected, there’s been significant turnover in a lot of seats in the House bringing in new voices. Incumbents tend to have the advantage, but if there is a better candidate or an incumbent not serving their district, the electorate usually will go in a different direction, as they did when I first ran for office.

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

As a proud graduate of our public schools, improving our education system is important to me because I believe our teachers and students deserve the best. Some of the things that I believe we need to do is support living wages for teachers, strengthen financial literacy for students, ensure that capital improvement projects for schools are completed on time and on budget, and support and expand on Science Technology Engineering and Math. We also need to support our college and career counselors.

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

We need to look at sustainable industries to diversify our economy. This includes film, manufacturing and renewable energy. Diversification helps the visitor industry. Investing in film is indirect marketing for the state visitor industry. Manufacturing increases trade and exports meaning more flight routes and lower fares for visitors and locals. Renewable energy will help keep energy costs low, while making our islands a destination for ecotourism.

An estimated 60% of Hawaiʻi 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?

More has to be done to make housing affordable. One of the biggest cost drivers is the infrastructure needed to support new housing, including water and sewer, roads and electricity. Even when a housing project is ready to move forward, those costs can delay construction or make housing more expensive. One proposal we should seriously consider is a dedicated housing infrastructure grant program, similar to Washington state’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program.