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 Kelehua Kaʻōpua, Democratic candidate for State House District 45, which covers the communities of Waiʻanae and Mākaha. His opponent is Republican candidate Chris Muraoka.

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 know what it means to struggle and to rebuild. I’ve lived through displacement, faced real hardship and came out the other side with a clear understanding of what our families need. I’m not running to have a title. I’m running because Waiʻanae deserves someone in that room who takes the work seriously and won’t back down.

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 displacement of local families. Our people are being squeezed out by speculation. In my first six months, I will introduce legislation to create community land trusts and long-term ground leases, ensuring homes built by union workers stay permanently affordable for generations, not just the first buyer.

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

No. We need reliable, affordable shipping to lower the cost of living, especially for basic goods and local agriculture. A monopoly doesn’t serve our families, it serves corporate profits. We must explore ways to increase competition and build resilience in our supply chain to protect our local economy.

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 was SB 2471 the first-in-the-nation bill that effectively ends Citizens United in Hawaiʻi by keeping corporate and dark money out of our elections. That is historic. What failed: stronger protections against land speculation displacing local families. What shouldn’t have passed: any development bill that bypassed community input and put profit over people.

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?

We need total transparency, strict campaign finance reform and an end to backroom deals. Trust is broken because the system rewards the wealthy over working families. Ban corporate PAC money, strengthen ethics enforcement and ensure every lawmaker is accountable to the people.

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?

We must protect our ʻāina and coastal families first. I will fight for local decision-making in land use, prioritizing community resilience hubs, decentralized power grids and protecting our natural barriers. We need emergency plans that are place-based and resources that reach Waiʻanae directly, without delay.

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 action means protecting the land from exploitation. I support local agriculture, community gardens and traditional farming knowledge to build food security. The cost of adaptation should fall on the largest polluters and outside speculators, not working-class taxpayers. We need green union jobs to build our resilience.

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. The frantic rush at session’s end leads to bad laws and backroom deals that shut the community out. Limiting bills forces lawmakers to focus on real priorities.

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?

We cannot responsibly govern without knowing the cost of our decisions. Working families balance their budgets every day; the state must do the same. Fiscal analysis ensures we prioritize investments that actually help people.

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 term limits. Power shouldn’t be a lifelong career. Without them, politicians become entrenched and disconnected from everyday struggles. We need fresh voices, lived experience and leaders who are urgent about solving problems.

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

We need to invest in the whole child. I support agricultural skills training at every grade level, integrating traditional farming knowledge. We must also ensure schools have adequate mental health support and special education resources, so no child is left behind the way I was when my ADHD went unrecognized.

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

We must grow local opportunity. I propose investing in local entrepreneurs, providing storefronts for makers and creating community markets. We need job training tied to construction, agriculture and union trades. By feeding our community through the land and supporting small businesses, we build a resilient, self-reliant economy.

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?

We must heal the roots. I will fight for permanently affordable housing held in community trust, union jobs with prevailing wages, and accessible mental health support. We need to stop the displacement of our people. When we invest in local families instead of outside speculators, all of Hawaiʻi rises.