Civil Beat has asked candidates for the primary election on Aug. 8 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Kurt Fevella, Republican candidate for State Senate District 20, which includes the communities of ʻEwa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ʻEwa by Gentry, Iroquois Point and a portion of ʻEwa Villages.

His opponents are Republicans Rida Cabanilla Arakawa and Bob McDermott.

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 not a politician — this is a continuation of my 30+ years of service. As a former custodian, Neighborhood Board chair, and Lions Club president, my heart is in ʻEwa Beach. I’m a strong voice facing a Democratic supermajority, crossing the aisle to secure funding for ʻEwa Beach while holding the establishment accountable. I refuse to watch local families get priced out. My record is proven! I will continue to work hard for our families of ʻEwa Beach.

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?

Aging and overcrowding schools, improve roads and infrastructure and public safety. Building on my record in continuing fighting for funding to improve the quality of life in our community.

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

No

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?

Important: HB 1711 rent-to-own house program, HB 1800 Budget bill, SB 3125 Income tax. Fail: HB 1965 Health insurance, SB 3311 Inter-island transportation studies. Pass-Fail: SB 269 Inter-island tax hike.

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?

Restoring public trust in the legislative process is one of my highest priorities. While my outspoken nature can occasionally rub people the wrong way, my passion comes from a deep commitment to fighting for our families, preserving our culture and confronting injustice. I believe in facts and absolute transparency. I despise broken promises, and I will continue to do everything in my power to hold public officials accountable.

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?

Hawaiʻi must invest in protective infrastructure, not reactive recovery. Encourage utilities to bury underground lines in wind zones and cutting trees. I’ve secured state funds for ʻEwa Plains firebreaks and brush clearing. I am coordinating with agencies to clear canals and update our ʻEwa Beach emergency plan. Neighbors help neighbors, so I am fighting to turn local facilities into safe prepared shelters.

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?

Climate change is a real concern. Over 30 years in ʻEwa Beach, I’ve supported water reclamation to protect aquifers and native limu restoration to slow shoreline erosion. I’ve introduced legislation for waste-to-energy technology to reduce landfill reliance. To fund climate defense, I am aggressively capturing federal grants so Washington pays for upgrades — not local taxpayers. I will strongly oppose any new green taxes or fees that penalize small businesses or price families out of Hawaiʻi.

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 believe that there should be limits on the numbers of bills so we can have more of a meaningful dialogue, community participation and transparency.

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?

Need more data.

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 support term limits in principle, but Hawaiʻi’s slow system makes them dangerous. Securing the $40M Campbell High sports complex took eight years. I had to pass requests through committees, split funding across fiscal years, pressure the governor to release the money before it lapsed, and push the DOE to award the contract. With short-term limits, vital projects would face abandonment mid-process. ʻEwa Beach needs a proven fighter who knows how to navigate the system until the job is done.

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

As a Campbell High graduate and former security, EA and custodian, I see the DOE from the ground up. It’s a top-heavy bureaucracy hoarding funds while schools struggle. I’ll mandate a DOE audit to cut waste and fund repairs like broken ACs and classrooms. I fight for higher blue-collar pay, visible police patrols from pre-K to high school and campus AEDs. I also push for a 1:250 mental health counselor ratio, mandatory financial literacy and SB 3334 to force total DOE transparency.

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

I propose to diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy by implementing tax breaks and incentives for our ag, aquaculture and technology utilizing state and county land alongside water reclamation initiatives to aggressively expand local food production, invest in industrial hemp to help diversify our economy, establishing a hemp processing plant. Furthermore, I support introducing state tax incentives for clean industries, technology startups and specialized trades to open offices right here in ʻEwa Beach.

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 champion School-to-Work programs, funding advanced vocational, maritime and tech training at Campbell High to prepare our keiki for high-paying local careers. I’ll continue to fight to completely eliminate the GET on basic necessities like groceries, medicine and hygiene products, and open shipping competition to lower import costs. Finally, I’ll prioritize DHHL housing projects, protect homeowners from rising insurance premiums and stop foreign investors from buying local homes.