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 Janel Fujinaka, Democratic candidate for State House District 26 which includes portions of Downtown Honolulu and Kakaʻako as well as Makiki, Punchbowl and Kaheka.

Her opponents are Nathan Kenichi Char, Arjuna Heim, Robyn McCreary, Ian Ross and Tony Silva.

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 bring experience in public service, communications and policy work, listening to community needs and turning them into practical, achievable solutions. I work across teams to move initiatives from ideas to results. I want this role because I’m committed to improving conditions for working families in Hawaiʻi through measurable impact in housing, economic opportunity, and essential services.

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 in my district is the rising cost of living, driven largely by housing costs and limited supply. In my first six months, I would pursue rental stabilization measures, such as reasonable rent caps tied to inflation, review local income and tax structures to identify targeted relief to lower household costs, and expand incentives for first-time and local homebuyers. I would also push for faster approval of new housing to increase supply.

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

I do not support maintaining a monopoly if it contributes to high interisland shipping costs. At the same time, any changes must be realistic and carefully implemented to avoid disrupting essential supply chains. I support reviewing the current system, increasing transparency, and exploring measured steps to introduce competition or cost-reduction partnerships to lower prices for residents while maintaining reliable, consistent shipping.

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?

The most important 2026 legislative actions for Makiki focused on housing, tenant protections, and cost-of-living pressures, including HB 1777, which strengthens tenant protections and reviews landlord-tenant reforms, and HB 2965, which addresses insurance non-renewal transparency. While these are steps forward, stronger action is still needed on faster permitting, inflation-linked rent stabilization and real cost-of-living relief for residents.

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?

Public trust depends on accountability. The Legislature must fully investigate any allegation of improper influence, including the reported $35,000 cash incident, and make all findings public. Going forward, I would support and introduce stronger ethics laws, tighter campaign finance and lobbying transparency rules, and real consequences for violations, including removal processes where appropriate. No one should be above scrutiny in public office.

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?

As a lawmaker, I would focus on practical, local disaster preparedness for Makiki, Tantalus, Punchbowl and Papakōlea by improving drainage, flood control and landslide mitigation in hillside areas and maintaining key access roads and infrastructure. I would strengthen neighborhood emergency plans, evacuation routes and reliable communication systems. I would also ensure state buildings are ready and accessible as emergency shelters when needed to house displaced residents safely.

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 immediate, practical climate resilience, upgrading drainage, flood control and wildfire mitigation in high-risk areas, especially hillside communities. I would prioritize prevention to reduce long-term disaster costs. To address financial impacts, I would pursue state and federal funding, public-private partnerships and phased compliance so costs aren’t suddenly passed to taxpayers, property owners and small businesses all at once.

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 extend the legislative timeline to allow more meaningful debate, public input and careful review of bills. With over 3,000 bills introduced each session, the current schedule leads to rushed, last-minute decisions that reduce transparency and accountability. A longer, structured session would allow stronger bills to be fully vetted, improve outcomes and ensure lawmakers are not forced into hurried trade-offs that impact residents without proper scrutiny.

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?

I support creating a dedicated legislative fiscal analysis office or agency that reviews every bill and provides clear, realistic cost estimates before it moves forward. Lawmakers should not be voting in the dark. Requiring a fiscal “price tag” on legislation improves accountability, transparency, and better decision-making, ensuring we understand the real impact on taxpayers before policies are 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?

I support establishing reasonable term limits for state legislators. Long-term incumbency can reduce fresh perspectives and slow progress on evolving issues. Term limits would encourage new leadership, broader participation, and more consistent focus on results and accountability to constituents rather than tenure. This would help ensure the government continues to adapt to current community needs and encourages healthier democratic turnover over time.

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

I would prioritize raising educator pay to make Hawaiʻi competitive, recruit and retain quality teachers, and reduce burnout. I would also invest in modern classroom resources, career and technical education, and stronger college and workforce pathways so students are prepared for competitive industries. Improving student outcomes requires supporting teachers, updating curriculum for future skills, and ensuring schools have the tools and funding needed to succeed.

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

I would focus on strengthening local agriculture and investing in emerging technologies to reduce Hawaiʻi’s dependence on tourism. Expanding local food production, value-added agriculture, and farm-to-market systems can improve food security and create small business opportunities. At the same time, supporting tech, clean energy, and remote-work industries can diversify jobs, grow wages and keep more economic value circulating within local communities.

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 would raise the minimum wage to a true living wage tied to Hawaiʻi’s cost of living and inflation, with phased increases to support small businesses. I would also expand tax credits, grants and low-interest financing for local entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses, especially in agriculture, technology and clean energy. Alongside this, I would invest in workforce training for emerging industries so residents can access higher-paying, long-term careers.