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 Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 2 covering Puna.

She is challenging Democratic incumbent Joy San Buenaventura in the Aug. 8 primary election. The winner of the primary will face Libertarian candidate Frederick Fogel 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 am not a career politician. I am a mother, grandmother, community advocate and author. More importantly, I have spent my life listening, learning and working alongside people to solve real problems. I want to serve because Hawaiʻi needs leaders who can help turn our canoe around — people with the courage and imagination to realize our higher potential for self-governance. Leaders who listen deeply, tell the truth and challenge the status quo when it no longer serves the people.

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?

Puna faces two connected challenges: the rising cost of living and a growing accountability gap. Too many residents feel unheard while struggling with the costs of housing, food, energy and healthcare. In my first six months, I would focus on building stronger pathways between constituents and the Senate office through regular listening sessions, transparent reporting and easier public participation. Better solutions emerge when government is accountable to the people it serves.

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

No. Hawaiʻi depends on ships to bring in food, supplies and other goods. I support looking at ways to increase competition and lower shipping costs for families and local businesses. The Jones Act is a federal law, so state lawmakers cannot change it directly. As a state senator, I would work with Hawaiʻi’s members of Congress to explore changes that could lower costs, improve shipping reliability, and protect worker and safety standards.

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?

SB 2471 and HB 2050 are a strong start for election reform. I wish conveyance tax reform had passed because it would have generated significant funding for affordable housing. I also hope plug-in solar legislation moves forward next session to expand access to clean energy and lower energy costs. I wish HB 2592 had failed because I am concerned it shifts authority away from existing public processes and may reduce accountability, transparency and public oversight of decisions affecting Mauna Kea.

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?

People are tired of seeing one set of rules for elected officials and another for everyone else. We need stronger ethics laws, real consequences for misconduct and a commitment to transparency. Lawmakers must stop protecting each other and want to build the public’s trust. Accountability should not depend on who you know or how much political power you have. Public trust depends on leaders with the courage to speak up when they see wrongdoing and the integrity to do the right thing.

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?

Puna needs a mauka and makai road out, and more roads connecting communities. I also support more investments in community resilience, including microgrids, plug-in solar, emergency communications, water security, local food storage and neighborhood preparedness hubs. We need systems that can keep people connected, informed and safe when roads are blocked, power is out or supply chains are disrupted.

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?

The real challenge is how we adapt in ways that strengthen our communities rather than pass costs on to taxpayers. We need a regenerative economy that builds resilience while lowering long-term costs. That includes community-owned renewable energy, distributed energy systems, local food production, water security and ecosystem restoration. By working with nature instead of against it, we can reduce costs for families and businesses while strengthening our local economy.

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?

Yes. I support reducing duplicate and competing bills, extending the legislative session and ending the ability of a single committee chair to kill a bill. Lawmakers should work through differences in public, not through backroom negotiations or procedural bottlenecks. Better self-governance comes from deliberation, transparency and public participation. And why introduce bills that no one ever intends to move? We can do better.

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?

No response provided.

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?

I am open to term limits. I believe the bigger issue is creating competitive elections. Right now, voters canʻt really decide when a lawmaker’s time is up. I would rather focus on reducing barriers to running for office, supporting comprehensive public financing, increasing transparency and making government more responsive. If we fix the systems that protect incumbents, voters will have more meaningful choices and elected officials will need to be more accountable.

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

Our public schools should prepare students not just for tests or jobs, but for life. I support investing in teachers and expanding arts, culture, indigenous knowledge and emotional intelligence education. Learning should extend beyond the classroom and into our communities, farms, forests, kitchens, mechanics’ garage, architects’ office, etc. Every student is unique. Education should help them discover their strengths, passions and purpose. Every child deserves a pathway to a fulfilling life.

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

Hawaiʻi’s economy will be stronger when we produce more of what we need locally. I support building a regenerative economy through local food production, community-owned renewable energy, distributed energy systems, value-added agriculture, circular manufacturing and small business development. Diversification is about keeping more wealth circulating in our communities, reducing dependence on imports, militarism and tourism, and creating meaningful local jobs that support both people and place.

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 cost of living is the biggest challenge facing Hawaiʻi families. We need to lower the costs of housing, energy, food, and healthcare while increasing economic opportunity. I support a living wage and tying it to the cost of living, strong unions, tax fairness and affordable housing. We should tax wealth more fairly, not just wages, and stop asking working families to carry the burden while costs rise faster than incomes.