Civil Beat has asked candidates for Hawaiʻi’s elections to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Garner Shimizu, incumbent Republican candidate for state House District 32, which includes Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Āliamanu, Foster Village, and portions of ʻAiea and Hālawa.

He will face Democratic opponent Micah Aiu in the general election on Nov. 3.

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?

With my background in mechanical engineering, I am trained to analyze complex systems, identify inefficiencies and find solutions. I apply this mindset to legislative work, focusing on the overall impact. I am deeply rooted in my community, having attended Moanalua from elementary through high school and raised my family here. I am not a career politician, have no conflicts of interest, and am committed to serving District 32 with integrity. Follow my legislative work on Instagram @repshimizu.

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?

Building on my 2024 responses, cost of living remains the top priority of our district. I look at the fiscal and cost-of-living impact of every bill to ensure it’s affordable for all. I support streamlining permitting and housing development, expanding housing supply, and improving coordination between state and county agencies, while avoiding new cost burdens. For major projects like Aloha Stadium, I prioritize fiscal responsibility. Homelessness also remains, and I’ve introduced legislation.

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

No, I do not support monopolies. Concentrated market power can reduce accountability and weaken cost controls. My record reflects concern about rising shipping costs. I was one of fifteen legislators who voted “NO” on Senate Bill 2694, which allows automatic rate increases of up to 5% per year over three years. Since enactment, Young Brothers has implemented a 3% increase. I opposed this measure because we should lower costs for residents and businesses, not increase them (see CB article for more).

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?

Most important bills include House Bill 1973 (Kupuna Aloha pilot program for in-home care), Senate Bill 2175 (bans disposable vaping devices), Senate Bill 2552 (first-time homebuyer tax benefits), and Senate Bill 2494 (extends bribery statute of limitations to nine years). Failed but should have passed: House Bill 1754 to exempt food, groceries, and expand medical/dental tax exemptions. Should have failed: Senate Bill 2694 (see prior), Senate Bill 2140 on permit revocation and Senate Bill 2543, which adds additional state bureaucracy for permitting.

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?

Public trust depends on ethical conduct, openness in decision making, and clear consequences when that trust is violated. No one is above the law, and any breach of public trust must be thoroughly investigated and addressed. Our constituents deserve confidence that decisions are made for what is best for Hawaiʻi, not personal gain. We should strengthen penalties as a deterrent and significantly lower campaign fundraising and spending limits to reduce the influence of money.

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?

Support legislation that would establish and organize a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for every community. The goal is to partner Federal Emergency Management Agency funding and volunteer leaders to prepare themselves to be trained and sustainable. This proactive readiness reduces vulnerability and complete dependence on first responders, who may likely be delayed or overwhelmed.

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?

This is a complex and overarching challenge. We need to recognize and discuss global best practices and involve all major stakeholders to coordinate and establish action plans. This past session we passed Senate Bill 2401 that addressed shoreline erosion mitigation.

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?

Yes, I believe limiting the number of bills introduced would encourage more meaningful discussion. In 2025, House members were limited to 20 bills, with 10 additional bills allowed in 2026, while the Senate has no limit. Committee deadlines, amendments, and legislative timelines can also restrict debate. I support exploring a year-round legislative process for full-time legislators to strengthen policy development, community engagement, and legislative quality.

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 and the public should understand the fiscal impact of legislation before decisions are made. I introduced HB 2128 and partnered with Senator Rhoads on SB 2828 to require fiscal notes for bills with financial impacts, prevent committees from acting on fiscal measures without that information, and make analyses available to the public. Good policymaking requires an honest assessment of costs, so that we all know what it will cost and how it will be paid 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?

Yes, I introduced House Bill 570 and co-signed House Bill 2428 to establish legislative term limits through a constitutional amendment. Without term limits, long-term incumbency can reduce competition and make it harder for new voices to serve. Term limits would be a safeguard and deterrent against unethical relationships and hidden influences, while encouraging accountability and fresh perspectives. Experienced public servants can continue serving in other roles after reaching term limits.

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

We should review standards and recommendations from the National Education Association (NEA) and other national organizations and refine curriculum to better meet Hawaiʻi’s unique needs. Educators and principals should help identify challenges, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and improve efficiency. By simplifying processes and supporting students at different learning levels, including those with special needs, we can create a more focused and effective learning environment.

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

We must continually review laws, policies and regulations to eliminate unnecessary costs and inefficiencies. As I stated in my 2024 questionnaire, while tourism remains important, Hawaiʻi cannot rely too heavily on a single industry. We should protect our environment while expanding our economic base through technology, healthcare, education, renewable energy, agriculture, astronomy, sports and trade opportunities to strengthen self-sufficiency (see 2024 questionnaire for more details).

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?

Many of these questions and answers are related. Coming from private industry as a business owner, I believe government must be more efficient and accountable. I would audit departments to remove outdated or inefficient policies, use performance metrics, and consider privatizing functions where cost-effective. Legislatively, we should identify the top 20 priorities affecting quality of life and require all bills to directly address them to keep sessions focused and impactful.