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 Kanani Souza, the Republican incumbent candidate for state House District 43, covering Kapolei and Makakilo.

She is running against Republican candidate Sheila Medeiros.

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?

As an attorney, I am experienced in understanding the nuances of legislation. As a lifelong resident of District 43, I have a strong understanding of the communities I serve. I have called Kapolei home for more than 35 years and have spent my time in office fighting for my constituents in Makakilo and Kapolei. I am seeking re-election to continue providing responsive leadership, advancing practical solutions, and ensuring our communities have a strong voice at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol.

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?

When re-elected, emergency preparedness and transportation infrastructure will remain priorities, especially additional access in and out of Makakilo. I will continue advancing the Makakilo Drive Extension and strengthening evacuation planning. Residents will benefit from safer, more reliable infrastructure that improves traffic flow, reduces congestion, and ensures our communities are better prepared for emergencies and natural disasters while supporting long-term mobility across the region.

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

No. Competition encourages innovation, improves services and can help reduce costs for consumers and businesses. Hawaiʻi depends on reliable interisland transportation, and policies that encourage fair competition can help deliver greater value and accountability. I support policies that promote competition while maintaining essential services and strengthening Hawaiʻi’s interisland supply chain.

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?

An important bill that I helped lead to pass in 2026 is S.B. 2471, now Act 11, which strengthens transparency and limits corporate influence in politics. I introduced H.B. 1907, which should have passed. It would have transferred the Makakilo Drive Extension from the City and County of Honolulu to the State to expedite the project. One bill that should not have passed is H.B. 1823, now Act 70, which weakens environmental safeguards in Special Management Area 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?

I helped lead the effort calling for an Attorney General investigation into the alleged $35,000 bribery scandal and introduced House Resolution 9 to establish a House Investigative Committee. As co-chair of the Good Government Caucus, I have fought for transparency and accountability. When re-elected, as chair of the Good Government Caucus, I will continue advocating for greater transparency in government, meaningful ethics reforms and increased accountability.

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?

As a member of the House Committee on Public Safety, I had the opportunity to focus on emergency preparedness and resilience. We need stronger infrastructure, improved evacuation planning, better communication systems, and closer coordination among state and county agencies, including ensuring timely warnings, real-time coordination and rapid response during emergencies. For District 43, that includes ensuring our communities have safe evacuation routes and updated emergency response plans.

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 should focus on practical solutions that strengthen resilience and protect communities. This includes improving drainage systems to reduce flooding, hardening power grids against storms, expanding wildfire prevention efforts and investing in infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather. These targeted, cost-effective measures reduce future disaster costs while avoiding unnecessary burdens on working families and local businesses.

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?

No. Legislators are elected to represent the needs and concerns of their communities, and arbitrary limits on bills could prevent important issues from being heard. Legislators should have the flexibility to respond to emerging challenges, constituent concerns, and changing circumstances through legislation, even if that exceeds a set limit. We should focus on encouraging thoughtful legislation and ensuring every proposal receives fair consideration through the legislative process.

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. Hawaiʻi should require meaningful fiscal notes so lawmakers and taxpayers understand the true financial impact of proposed legislation before it becomes law. Better cost estimates would improve decision-making, increase transparency, and help identify unintended consequences. Legislators should know what a proposal will cost before asking taxpayers to fund it. Requiring thorough fiscal analyses promotes responsible budgeting and protects taxpayer dollars.

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 support term limits because they help prevent the concentration of political power, encourage new ideas, and create opportunities for more citizens to serve in public office. A healthy democracy benefits from fresh perspectives and regular leadership renewal. At the same time, good leadership is defined by integrity, service, and results, and experienced leaders can continue to provide value when they are accountable to the people they serve.

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

As a member of the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on Higher Education, I value investing in our students, teachers and schools. We should strengthen career and technical education, expand workforce development opportunities and align learning with real-world pathways. Supporting educators and improving classroom resources are essential to student success.

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

Hawaiʻi must embrace emerging industries and expand economic opportunity beyond tourism. As chair of the Aviation and Space Caucus, I have advocated for growing Hawaiʻi’s space economy and supporting aerospace innovation, research, and technology development. We should also invest in renewable energy, ocean science and agricultural technology to diversify our economy and strengthen long-term resilience. Hawaiʻi is uniquely positioned to expand opportunities for future generations.

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?

The rising cost of living remains one of Hawaiʻi’s greatest challenges, especially for working families struggling to make ends meet. We need to increase housing opportunities, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, improve government efficiency and support broad-based economic growth that creates good-paying jobs across industries. By lowering barriers to opportunity and making government more effective, we can help our residents build a more secure future in Hawaiʻi.