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 Trish La Chica, the Democratic incumbent candidate for state House District 37, covering parts of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge and Waipio Gentry.

She is running against Democratic candidate Trevor T. Nagamine in the Democratic primary. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Emil Svrcina, who has declared as a nonpartisan candidate.

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’m raising my family in this community, so every decision I make is personal. Over the last four years, I’ve focused on the issues families bring to me most: affordability, reliable school transportation, neighborhood safety, protecting kids online, and housing. My office takes great pride in being responsive, accessible, and engaged year-round. I want to continue serving because I believe our community deserves a representative who listens first, stays accessible, and follows through.

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?

Affordability remains the biggest challenge facing District 37. Families are struggling with housing, childcare, groceries, insurance, healthcare and transportation, while public safety remains a constant concern. In my first six months, I’ll focus on preparing for the 2027 session by listening first: continuing to conduct mailed and online surveys, hosting Talk Story events, bringing state agencies into our community, and introducing legislation shaped by the priorities residents share with me.

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

I support exploring ways to increase competition where feasible, but my priority is working with the industry and stakeholders on what we can do to make sure Hawaiʻi has reliable, affordable interisland shipping. Families and businesses ultimately bear the cost of higher shipping rates, so we need greater transparency, stronger oversight, and accountability regardless of who provides the 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?

I’m proud to have helped lead the passage of Senate Bill 3001, establishing some of the nation’s first online protections for children using AI companion platforms, and House Bill 1785 to strengthen accountability for school bus service. Beyond my own bills, I supported measures that help families navigate rising costs, hold insurance companies more accountable, strengthen disaster resilience, and improve transparency in government. I wish we had done more to improve pedestrian and road safety in our communities.

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 is something I take very seriously because I never want my community to lose faith in my office or the work we do. Before serving in the Legislature, I was an investigative journalist exposing corruption. I’ve worked to earn that trust by being transparent, accessible, and communicating with my constituents. Legislatively, we must lead by example through stronger ethics enforcement, campaign finance oversight, independent audits and greater transparency in decision-making.

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?

Preparedness begins long before disaster strikes. I’ve hosted wildfire and emergency preparedness workshops and invited government agencies to our community talk stories. I’ve also prioritized neighborhood security because resilient communities start with neighbors looking out for one another. As a lawmaker, I’ll continue pushing for emergency communications, evacuation planning, and coordination among state, county, and community partners so we’re prepared before, not after, the next disaster.

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?

Hawaiʻi has made progress, but we haven’t moved fast enough. Climate change is already increasing wildfires, flooding, insurance, and utility costs. I support expanding solar, clean transportation, energy efficiency — including my proposal to encourage high-efficiency heat pumps — and resilient infrastructure. We must also reduce our dependence on imported fuel so families pay less for energy while adapting to a changing climate.

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 number of bills members can introduce. I believe the bigger opportunity is creating more meaningful dialogue during the interim, when legislation is being developed. If we’re only engaging lawmakers once session begins, we’ve already missed an opportunity because thousands of competing bills and priorities are moving at once. That’s why my office stays engaged year-round through surveys, meetings, and community outreach because better policy starts with listening early.

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, for bills with a meaningful fiscal impact. Good policy starts with good information. Taxpayers deserve to know not only what a proposal will cost, but whether it’s a smart investment. That requires better data from the agencies implementing these programs and stronger reporting on results. Government should be judged not just by how much it spends, but by what it delivers.

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, because legislative term limits require a constitutional amendment, I believe that voters should have the opportunity to decide this question. For me, serving in the Legislature has reinforced that experience, relationships, and institutional knowledge matter but at the same time, fresh perspectives can drive innovation and prevent complacency. A reasonable term limit can ensure that government continues to evolve with the communities it serves.

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

Improving our schools starts with investing in both our students and the educators who help them succeed. We must continue investing in teacher recruitment, retention, early learning, mental health, school meals and transportation, and teacher housing. Every child deserves access to a great public education, whether they attend a traditional public school or a public charter school. We should empower innovation, invest in what works, and hold the DOE accountable for delivering results.

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

Tourism will continue to play an important role in Hawaiʻi’s economy, but we can’t rely on one industry alone. We need to grow sectors like healthcare, skilled trades, clean energy, technology, agriculture, and film while strengthening career pathways through our public schools, community colleges, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs. Diversifying our economy starts with investing in local talent and helping small businesses grow.

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 hear this from my constituents regularly, and I experience it myself as a mom raising a family in Hawaiʻi. Too many working families are doing everything right and still falling behind. Too many working families earn too much to qualify for assistance or affordable loan programs. We need to lower everyday costs, help local businesses flourish, expand housing opportunities and childcare, and ensure government actually invests in solutions that help families build a future here.