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 Maurice Morita, a Democratic candidate for state House District 36, covering Waipahu.

He is running against Democratic incumbent Daisy Balais Hartsfield and Eric Barsatan.

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 want to return as a legislator what I have learned as a lobbyist for over 20 years and become a public servant to serve my community of Waipahu and the state 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?

As an educator, education is a top priority for me. Other priorities are construction which helps boost our economy, especially in the area of more affordable housing. We need to think of ways to bring more revenues instead of depending only on tourism. We must diversify ways to bring more revenues. We need to lower the cost of living in Hawaiʻi by fixing our tax system and become more business friendly. We have to help our small businesses and our veterans who served our country.

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

Competition is the best way to lower prices. Without competition, prices will increase.

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?

Honestly, I am surprised that the bills to prevent corruption in our government did not all pass. We need honest, transparent and trustworthy legislators.

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?

In this case as well as others, it becomes an individual choice and as a legislator, I am against any bribes and would pass bills that will benefit the majority of our people in the state of Hawaiʻi. You will not be able to make everyone happy but one must do what he/she feels would be the best answer to pass a bill.

In recent years, Hawaiʻi 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?

We need to make sure we are prepared for any type of “act of God” weather and to take all precautions that are needed to prevent any damages. Education and preparation will be important to help the people plan for any types of storms we must face.

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?

To be honest, I am not too knowledgeable about climate change and would like to be educated, if elected, to learn more what should be done in Hawaiʻi.

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?

My experience has been even if there are 3,000-plus bills introduced every year, there is a process that the bills must go through to pass. There are ways each house can kill a bill by adding more committees must hold a hearing. I don’t mind if there are a lot of bills, it’s like brainstorming, and there may be one good bill we didn’t think about.

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?

I am sure when the bills go to the money committees, it does come into play and all bills should have an idea as to the cost if passed. The bills must be transparent to the advantages and disadvantages of the bills.

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?

There are advantages and disadvantages of term limits. The more experience one has a legislator, one may get better at the job with experience and there are some who stay in office too long, that power influences their action. I am open to listen more about it.

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

Yes, this is one of my top priorities as a former educator.

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

Yes, we are too dependent on tourism and need to find other means of revenues to help diversify of economy.  i am in discussion with varous people listening to ways to increase our revenues. we have farm lands that are available for farming so we need to find ways to make easier for people to go into farming. i am in favor of lottery for education..

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 am in strong support of our Hawaiʻi Foodbank and to find ways so they can distribute food to the people who need it. We must think of incentives to help these residents who will lose SNAP benefits this January.