Civil Beat has asked candidates for the Hawaiʻi general election on Nov. 3 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Christy MacPherson, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 14 covering Kapālama, ‘Ālewa, Kalihi, Kalihi Valley, Ft. Shafter, Moanalua Gardens and Valley and Red Hill.

She is challenging Democratic incumbent Donna Kim in the Aug. 8 primary 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?

As a former single mom with over 30 years of experience as a grassroots community advocate, licensed social worker, and nonprofit leader, I live our community’s daily struggles. I’m running to mobilize District 14, break down bureaucratic barriers and amplify the voices of working-class residents. Our people deserve representation that is honest, accountable, and deeply rooted in the community and will ensure that our residents shape the laws and decisions that affect their daily lives.

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 cost of living, housing, care for kūpuna and public safety are prevailing issues impacting our district. I will prioritize policies that keep our ʻohana housed, such as subsidies and renters’ protections. My experience has been that safety issues stem from deeper root causes; investing in living wages, stable employment and housing, mental health infrastructure, substance abuse treatment and youth programming directly reduces harm. Bringing together stakeholders for collaboration is key.

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

We are too reliant on a sole interisland shipping carrier to supply goods. Our working families, small farmers and businesses should not shoulder the burden of rate increases. While a unified network is necessary to ensure reliable cargo delivery to smaller neighbor islands, monopolies need to be regulated. The Legislature needs to work toward long-term solutions that create conditions to stabilize shipping costs and ensure supply chain stability without driving up our cost of living.

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?

Some good safety net initiatives that passed were the Kākou Pilot Program to help children and families as well as the KupunAloha Pilot Program and the requirement for the Executive Office on Aging to develop a comprehensive long-term care plan. Establishing a Hawaiʻi Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Program, supporting immigration rights and local film production are all needed. It was disappointing that broad-based SNAP expansion, campaign finance reforms, and tax fairness bills died again.

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?

This issue requires systemic changes in behavior and internal policies. Elected and high-level officials must be held accountable. Rebuilding trust when an entrenched incumbent culture prevents any real change in leadership is key. The prevailing public perception is that politicians have little interest in addressing the dire needs of those struggling in our islands. Fresh perspectives are needed to shift our culture and restore a government that is transparent, ethical and accessible.

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 am very concerned about wildfire mitigation, flooding and corporate accountability. The first and constant necessary step I would take is to engage our public stakeholders in the decision-making process. With their feedback and ideas, I would work with my colleagues to introduce and champion legislation that protects our natural resources and prepares our community for future natural disasters. Decontamination of our water supply at Red Hill, which is in my district, should be a priority.

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 must embrace proactive climate adaptation, including managed retreat from vulnerable coastlines and reducing emissions equitably. I support boosting agency resources to study climate impacts, update zoning and project long-term risks using the best available science while prioritizing community voices. Sunsetting state solar and battery tax credits right as federal cuts hit—and extreme weather increases—undermines our energy resilience. A cost-benefit analysis of these policies is needed.

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?

We should not constrain ourselves when bold policies are genuinely needed. Only about 10% of the bills introduced actually become law, with no real correlation between the volume of proposals and what actually passes. I support a year-round Legislature. It would not only prevent lawmakers from holding additional jobs that could create a conflict of interest, but also improve their ability to discern bills requiring significant time, transparency and meaningful community engagement.

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?

Absolutely. Hawaiʻi is the only state that does not require fiscal notes on bills, which likely contributes to the heavy volume of legislation introduced. Lawmakers must research the long-term financial impacts of their ideas, ensuring that tax dollars are spent efficiently rather than passing underfunded mandates that constrain our state agencies. While the legislative process helps to vet proposals, consultation with state agencies must occur first to ensure that policies are sustainable.

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?

Institutional knowledge needs to be balanced with fresh ideas, energy and diverse experiences in our State Capitol. Our dominant incumbent culture heavily concentrates power, making it challenging for new candidates to step forward. “Why bother?” Right? About 16 state legislatures currently impose term limits, and this is worth examination. We should discern how term limits can disrupt the status quo, revitalize voter engagement and create a more reflective, accountable government.

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

Education is our great socio-economic equalizer, providing our vulnerable youth a path to success. We must support students and educators from early childhood through the UH system by prioritizing foundational needs. This includes modernizing and maintaining facilities as well as tackling the root causes of our chronic teacher shortage. Identifying teacher retention strategies and paying livable wages is key. Partnership with the DOE and UH ensures that our students can build their future here.

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

Supporting existing industries such as sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and small businesses by breaking down bureaucratic barriers is key. We need to work in tandem with the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and others to identify emerging trends. By investing in career pathways and promoting technical training that aligns with data, we can shape a modern economy. This will create diversified, high-paying jobs, allowing our young people to stay and thrive here.

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?

Throughout my career, I have been heavily involved in addressing the needs of our homeless and ALICE families, and I will continue to fight for wages that reflect Hawaiʻi’s true cost of living. We need to develop a more equitable tax structure and curb skyrocketing housing costs. Policies that create permanent housing for our unhoused and housing-insecure, relief for local working-class homebuyers and leveling the playing field against out-of-state real estate speculation are sorely needed.