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 Charla Weaver, Republican candidate for state House District 44 covering Honokai Hale, Nanakuli and Maili.

She will face incumbent Democrat Darius Kila.

Go to Civil Beat’s 2026 Elections Guide for general information, and check out the other candidates on Civil Beatʻs 2026 Hawaiʻi General Election Ballot.

Why are you best suited for the job? And why do you want the job?

I’m best suited for this job because I was born and raised on the Waiʻanae Coast, raised my family here, and have served our community my whole life. My experience in child welfare, education, the insurance business, community service, and as a foster parent has prepared me to lead. I want this job because I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our families face, many unresolved for generations, and I see it through the lens of a grandmother, ready to fight for our next generation.

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 facing District 44 is that our community’s needs have outgrown the resources and infrastructure we receive. In my first six months, I will focus on changing that, fighting for our fair share of state funding, addressing roads, education, housing, addiction and public safety, strengthening constituent services, and bringing state agencies directly into our community. My priority is making sure the Waiʻanae Coast is heard, seen and no longer overlooked.

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

No. A monopoly on interisland shipping means island communities pays whatever they’re charged, with nowhere else to turn. I’d push the Legislature toward real competition and pricing transparency, without risking reliable service to the neighbor islands.

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?

To me, the most important bill was HB 2309 (Act 164), which helps keep Hawaiian homestead leases in Hawaiian families by expanding who can succeed to a lease. What should have passed was HB 1805, creating an independent Child Advocate to protect keiki and families. What should have failed were programs with no funding, deadlines or accountability. Passing bills isn’t enough, families need to see real results.

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?

Transparency. Not a talking point, actually showing the public how decisions get made and who’s behind them. You don’t rebuild trust with a statement. You rebuild it by opening the books.

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 survived Hurricanes Iwa and Iniki. I remember telephone poles down, power lines hanging and communities cut off. Nearly 44 years after Iwa, the Waiʻanae Coast remains vulnerable with limited access in and out. As a lawmaker, I would push for a real secondary road for the coast to enter and exit Waiʻanae, as well as multiple emergency shelters throughout our communities. We cannot wait for the next disaster to fix problems we already know exist.

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 make sure we invest in real solutions, not Band-Aids. That means improving drainage and infrastructure, protecting vulnerable coastal areas and creating backup routes so one storm does not cut off the Waiʻanae Coast. On cost, I would push to prioritize and phase in improvements responsibly, using available state and federal resources rather than placing the burden on families and businesses already stretched thin.

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. The constitution already sets the process. I’m not looking to rewrite it. The real problem is the last minute horse trading, not the number of bills on the table.

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. Voting blindly when you don’t even know if a bill costs $1 million or $10 million is crazy. Nobody walks up to a checkout counter and hands over a credit card without looking at the price first. We have to look at the price tag before we buy anything, so the government should have to do the exact same thing.

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 reasonable term limits. Public office should be about service, not a lifetime career. In a state dominated by one party, we also need a legislative process where good ideas are heard regardless of who introduces them. Too many bills never receive a hearing. Limit the terms, but also open the doors so more voices, perspectives and communities have a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

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

To help improve our schools, I would cut wasteful spending, including funding sitting in vacant positions that should go directly to our kids. I’d put education dollars where they belong, in the classroom, supporting teachers to teach. Waiʻanae Coast schools struggle to recruit and retain teachers, so I support workforce housing and incentives to keep quality educators here. I’d also address transportation, traffic, and barriers to parent involvement.

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

Invest in agriculture and farming, incentivize local producers and cut the red tape holding back small businesses. Visitors already want authentic local experiences, so we should create more opportunities for local families and entrepreneurs to benefit directly. Diversifying our economy means keeping more dollars in Hawaiʻi, supporting local ownership and making it easier for our own people to build businesses, create jobs and prosper.

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 squeezing everyone, not just low-income families. I’d fight for additional childcare subsidies, tax relief, and fixing the system that cuts off support the moment families earn more. I’d figure out how to cut red tape and expand access to capital so local businesses can grow and hire locally and expand financial literacy programs, so families build real stability. In my district, that also means getting Hawaiian Homestead waitlisters into their land at a reduced cost.