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 John Mizuno, Democratic candidate for State House District 29, which includes Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley and a portion of Kalihi.

His primary opponent is Democrat and incumbent Ikaika Hussey. The winner of the primary will face Republican candidate Tess Abalos 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 have been a State Representative for 17 years, recognized as legislator of the year five times, served as vice speaker – 2nd highest ranking member, twice. I worked as a hearing officer and special investigator for the Department of Human Services (DHS), a special advisor on homelessness for the Department of Transportation, the director of Homelessness and Housing Solutions under DHS, a law clerk for Judge Don Tsukiyama, Judiciary and as a meditator/investigator at the Department of Labor. To LISTEN and serve the people!

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?

Crime, homelessness and the high costs of living. Work to open more “Restricted Parking Zones (RPZ)” in Kalihi, but work with the City Council to eliminate the parking permit fee. I worked with the City Council to establish the first RPZs in Hawaiʻi, which has been a great success to ensure residents’ parking while also reducing crime. My first six months I will draft a bill for immediate economic relief for working families to expand tax relief and enhance the renters’ credit and childcare tax credit.

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

No – the current monopoly model is broken and driving up cost of living for everyone in Hawaiʻi. When the single carrier can secure a 25.75% rate increase in January 2026 and successfully lobby the Legislature for automatic annual price hikes just months later, this system is no longer for the people. If elected, I will draft a bill to secure a comprehensive evaluation of state harbors, reduce wharfage fees and eliminate fees on essential food items on interisland shipping.

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 Legislation shortening the judicial review process for affordable housing and clean energy projects were winners. By streamlining environmental challenges directly to the Supreme Court, we are preventing essential workforce housing from being trapped in legal court battles forever. The Legislature failed to pass programs to clear state and county building permit backlogs. Reject SB 2694 which passed to grant automatic rate increases of 5% for interisland shipping after the 25.75% rate increase.

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?

Revolutionary change by new policy to display complete transparency of any funds going to any and all elected officials and those running for public office. Both the House and Senate must establish a fast-track procedure to initiate a special investigative committee to timely address credible allegations of corruption by any elected official under their purview.

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?

If elected I will draft a bill to retrofit our district’s local schools, community centers and nonprofit facilities into emergency hubs which are equipped with off-grid capabilities, using solar/emergency satellite communications, three-day supply of medical supplies, food and water. I support RISE bonds on November 2026 ballot to fund projects for disaster preparedness and relief. I would push HECO and the Department of Transportation to prioritize underground utilities to widen our roads in Kalihi.

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?

We cannot place a tax burden on working families and local businesses; therefore, we must shift the financial burden to tourism. The Green Fee increased the Transient Accommodations Tax to 11% which is about $100 million annually for climate resilience and disaster prevention. I will work to ensure the funding of the Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard is transparent so taxpayers and businesses can track every dollar spent on physical projects like wildfire break zones, reef restoration, etc.

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 recall as a House member we already have a bill limit of 15 bills in the first year of odd-numbered years and up to five bills in the second year or even-numbered years. With certain exceptions for short-form bills for chairs and Admin/State/County bill packages. The Senate does not have a bill limit. I think it may be prudent to have a bill limit similar to the House of Representatives for both chambers.

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?

Absolutely, any taxpayer expense should be disclosed to the public. Being open with taxpayer money is aligned with my views of being completely transparent and accountable to our taxpayers. Being open, transparent and accountable will instill confidence in government, which appears to be lacking today.

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?

No, because Hawaiʻi already has built in term-limits. The voters of the district will determine if the incumbent elected official or person running for that seat should be voted in or out. The power is always with the people, our voters, to make the decision to vote that person in or out of office.

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

Hawaiʻi’s children represent our state’s greatest resource, because they represent our future. We need to ensure that we support and invest in our public-school teachers. Adjust pay scales to meet national averages, taking into account the costs of living in Hawaiʻi. Focus on the core education materials in reading and math with a proven national record of success. Modernize operations/facilities for a positive learning environment. Go digital for administrative functions, payroll and work orders.

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

We must diversify our economy in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Technology and market our products better. Kona Coffee and Maui Onions sell for a premium price, which is why we need to invest in more diversified crops, fruits, even hemp and reinvest in dairy farms which we lost over the years. Aquaculture can be an economic boom for Hawaiʻi if we invest in more shrimp, fish and shellfish farms. Hawaiʻi must also gravitate toward high technology jobs connected to AI, cloud computing and data security.

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?

I co-wrote HB 2510, the minimum wage bill that passed in 2022 to increase minimum wage to $16-per-hour on Jan. 1, 2026 and $18 starting Jan. 1, 2028. I also worked to pass a $300 tax refund along with a $300 tax refund per-child which amounted to a $1,200 tax refund for a family of four. This was the largest tax refund since 2007. In that same year I worked to pass $1 billion for affordable housing and $1 billion for DHHL to get our Native Hawaiian families off the waitlist and into housing. Continue this.