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 Monique Perreira, Republican incumbent for state House District 8, which includes Hālaula, Waimea, Mākahalau, Waikii, Waikōloa, Kawaihae and Mahukona.

She is running against Hope Alohalani Cermelj in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democratic incumbent David Tarnas in the 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’m running because I want a better future for my children, grandchildren and all Hawai’i families. Too many people are being forced to leave our islands in search of opportunity. I’m best suited for this job because I’m not a politician, I’m a local, born and raised here and I understand the everyday challenges families face. I also understand the love for this place we call home. I want to help create opportunities here at home so future generations can thrive in Hawai’i.

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?

The biggest issue is the high cost of living. Families are struggling with housing costs, food prices, utilities and taxes. One of my first priorities would be supporting tax relief measures, including removing or reducing the GE tax on essential goods such as food, hygiene products and medical services. This is not an original idea, but one that has been proposed for years by Republican lawmakers and never seems to gain traction. The question is: why? Perhaps politics gets in the way.

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

No. Competition generally leads to better serviced, innovation and lower cost.

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 bill: SB125 — income tax reform — failed but should have passed. HB2581/SB2151 – Emergency Powers Reform — passed but I wish had failed. SB2239 – Opt-Out Voter Registration.

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?

Trust is earned through transparency and accountability. The Legislature should strengthen ethics rules, increase disclosure requirements, improve public access to information, and ensure violations are investigated thoroughly and impartially. I think most people would agree that we have not seen enough accountability regarding the $35,000 in a brown paper bag.

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?

I would start with better infrastructure maintenance. Stronger emergency preparedness. I would support investments in wildfire mitigation water infrastructure and communication systems and disaster preparedness programs. Prevention is far less expensive than recovery.

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?

I would focus on practical resilience measures that protect communities and infrastructure while keeping costs manageable. This includes forest management, wildfire prevention, water security and responsible environmental stewardship. Any climate-related policies should be evaluated based on effectiveness, affordability and measurable results. We cannot continue placing excessive financial burdens on working families, small businesses or property owners.

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 non-AI generated answer is: YES.

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?

Common sense non-AI generated answer is: Absolutely. Every bill should come with a realistic fiscal analysis so taxpayers and lawmakers know exactly what it will cost before it’s passed.

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 believe in term limits and would support introducing legislation to establish them, although similar bills are introduced almost every session. Public service should be about serving the community, not building a lifelong political career.

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

Hawaiʻi’s public school system has plenty of room for improvement. Hawaiʻi operates the only statewide public school district in the nation. Decisions affecting schools on the neighbor islands are largely centralized in Honolulu, often leaving local communities feeling underrepresented. This highly centralized structure is bureaucratic and difficult to manage. We should explore county-based or regional school systems that give local communities more control over educational decisions.

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

The first place to start is investing in our agriculture industry. We need to produce more of our own food, reduce our dependence on imports, and expand opportunities for agricultural exports. We should provide infrastructure support for our ranchers and farmers and encourage value-added agricultural products that help local producers increase their bottom line.

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?

We need to build more housing that local families can actually afford, support our farmers so we’re less dependent on imported food, and take a hard look at regulations and taxes, including the GE tax, that drive up everyday costs. We also need to stop wasting taxpayer money and focus on the basics instead of spending on things that don’t improve people’s lives. We need to put people over politics.