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 Ben Fatula, Democratic candidate for U.S. House 1st District, which covers urban Oahu.

His opponents are Nathan Berning, Jennifer Booker, Ed Case, Jordan Conley, Jarrett Keohokalole, Nicholas Kiswanto and Adriel Lam.

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

At this specific moment in American history — marked by intense divisions and the politics of grievance — why are you the right person to represent the specific needs of Hawaiʻi’s 1st Congressional District?

Send me to Congress and I’ll fight against Trump’s corruption and human rights violations, and against every other member of the Epstein class. I’ll fight for your right to healthcare and your right to a living wage. I will not accept an America where people are driven out for their sexuality or their ethnicity. Here in Hawai’i we believe in an America where everyone can live, and that’s what I’ll fight for.

What is the biggest issue facing Hawaiʻi, and what is the first thing you would do to address it in the first six months after being elected?

Affordability is the biggest crisis for Hawai’i today. Repeal the Jones Act. None of our representatives has held out to get what is needed for Hawai’i. I would tell Democratic leadership in Congress that if they want my vote on issues, they have to get me what I need for my constituents. A complete repeal of either the whole Jones Act or a repeal on the limitation of U.S. ships between U.S. ports for all non-contiguous U.S. ports.

Here’s one question from your constituents: Will you stand up against the bullying corruption of the Trump admin?

Absolutely. We are country founded on the rule of law and not the rule by law. We need to take strong action to reign in the lawlessness and corruption of the Trump administration.

For those who have held public office: What is one piece of legislation or policy initiative you spearheaded in the last four years that had a measurable, positive impact on Hawaiʻi? For challengers who have not held public office: What professional or community achievement best demonstrates your ability to navigate complex bureaucracies and deliver results?

(Public) approval of Congress is as low as it has ever been. We need people who have worked and had to navigate the complexities of making ends meet more than we need people experienced in bureaucracy. If you have a bus driver who has been driving a bus for twenty years, but has an accident every week they have the experience, but it’s bad experience. It’s time for a change.

With the Trump administration in its final two years, how specifically do you plan to ensure Hawaiʻi’s interests aren’t sidelined? Name one specific policy area where you believe you can find common ground with the administration or across the aisle to benefit Hawaiʻi residents.

Infrastructure legislation to fix aging infrastructure and new carbon neutral and negative power and utilities to help the country forward.

Hawaiʻi consistently ranks as one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S. Beyond general support for HUD, what federal program or legislative mechanism would you propose to specifically address affordability and increase housing inventory on the islands?

There are two key areas that could help improve housing affordability in Hawai’i. First, a tax on unoccupied dwellings and commercial properties. Far too many landlords in Hawai’i leave property unrented for years in order to not lower rates. This artificially inflates the cost of renting and leasing here in Hawai’i. Second, a national change to zoning to build more walkable dense communities. This would encourage developers to build denser housing communities that are functional and liveable.

The Jones Act is a century-old cargo shipping law that some argue has a significant impact on Hawaiʻi’s cost of living. Do you support a full repeal, a specific exemption for Hawaiʻi or maintaining the status quo? How will you build a national coalition to change it? If you support maintaining the status quo, please explain why that’s necessary.

Full repeal of the Jones Act is the best way forward today. I would require that the repeal of the Jones Act was part of any major legislation that required my vote if they wanted my vote on that other legislation. Politics is the art of compromise and trading of influence and votes. If the party and leadership want the vote of Hawai’i, then they need to get Hawai’i what we need.

National conservative groups have launched legal challenges against Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy and a federal program that provides Native Hawaiian health scholarships. Are you concerned about protecting those institutions and programs and, if so, what federal legislative action will you take?

I do believe that schools that serve historically underrepresented and disenfranchised communities should be protected. I would work on an amendment to get Kamehameha schools a protected class under the U.S. Education code, codifying the rights affirmed in Doe vs. Kamehameha Schools

Climate change and ever more powerful disasters are facts of life in Hawaiʻi. How would you plan to address that issue in Washington on behalf of the state?

A new bi-partisan infrastructure law that would fund a pathway to carbon neutral for the country as a whole.

Hawaiʻi aims for 100% renewable energy by 2045. Do you support Gov. Josh Green’s initiative to use liquefied natural gas as a bridge fuel until that goal is met?

Yes, but only if the pathway to 100% renewable energy is funded as part of the initiative.

As the headquarters of INDOPACOM, Hawaiʻi is central to U.S. strategy in the Pacific. How do you balance the need for a strong military presence with the environmental and social concerns of the local community?

The military and federal government need to be accountable for the damage they cause to the land they use. On the state level, the state should negotiate with the government for concessions in the lease to being cleaning up the land as well as better utilizing the land in the future. On the federal level, the government and military need to take accountability in their land use. This would be best addressed as a part of the funding of the defense department.

Immigration is a cornerstone of Hawaiʻi’s history and culture, yet the Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance on enforcement. How will you represent Hawaiʻi’s values in Washington while balancing the federal government’s need to secure the nation’s borders?

The Trump administration has taken an unlawful stance on immigration and not just an aggressive one. Due process and the rule of law must be followed by everyone, no exceptions. We need a multi-pronged approach to immigration reform in the country today. Real achievable pathways to residency and citizenship, meaningful penalties to companies that illegally hire, compassion in the process. These are real people and they deserve to be treated as such. Lastly, ICE needs to be abolished and replaced.