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 Jordan Conley, Green candidate for U.S. House 1st District, which covers urban Oahu.

His opponents are Nathan Berning, Jennifer Booker, Ed Case, Ben Fatula, 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?

I am the right person because I am in the right party. The duopoly is the Epstein Class. The Green Party is a people- powered party. Democrats and Republicans form a corporate uniparty. Their divisions are for show only. We know what Democratic-led states look like. High rates of homelessness while having plenty AirBnB’s, investment homes and many empty homes, apartments and buildings around. Also no healthcare. Weak public transportation. I will answer to the people not corporations.

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?

I think the biggest issue for most people is healthcare if I have to pick one. The first thing I would do if elected is push for a vote for national universal healthcare. If that were to fail, I would push a State’s Rights bill for universal healthcare for the Kingdom of Hawai’i. This bill would be open for other states and territories to sign up to.

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

I will stand up to the corruption of the bullying corporate duopoly. I would like you to recall that Joe Biden wrote the most racist bill since Jim Crow in his 1990’s crime bill that militarized the police and hurt many Black, brown and poor white families for something his son did on video. Bill Clinton passed that bill. Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street sprang up under Barack Obama who lied about poisoned water. These are all bully tactics and I will stand up to all bullies!

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?

In September 2016, I co-founded a nonprofit called Hapa Mana which loosely translates to integrating spirit/aura/power. We made partnerships throughout the community to bring opportunities to, focusing on at-risk youth, but also across all walks of life. We brought together through written partnerships Institute for Human Services, Kunia Village Development Corporation, Challenge Island, Lego, Microsoft and more. There are several interviews of me talking about Hapa Mana on YouTube and Google.

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.

The Democrats here in Hawaiʻi, and around the nation, sue and impede the Green Party from being on national, state and local ballots. They use their donors’ money to halt a true democratic process. Since they are mainly corporate-funded, they can easily afford to do this. I would bring this to the attention of the Trump administration. I would ask for an amendment that says every regular person should have the right to represent themselves, family and community on a ballot.

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?

An empty homes tax. If you have a place in Hawai’i that no one stays at for more than half the year, I will tax you. We need a housing-first policy. It is easier to get clean and a job if you are housed. I would also add apartments to the Hawaiian Homestead Act. All Native Hawaiians should have a place in Hawai’i. If an apartment is not what you want, it is an asset to sell. No Native Hawaiian should be forced off of their island. Also tax AirBnB. All homes should be for people who live here first.

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.

Getting rid of the Jones Act is Top 10 or so of my issues. I support a full repeal. This is another issue we could work on with Trump and Republicans. They are against needless taxes and regulations. I’m sure Democrats will fight us, but that is why you should vote Green on the entire Hawai’i ballot. Democrats fight progress. Republicans can be convinced if you speak in their terms. But if I am elected, the Jones Act is 100% over.

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 am concerned. The U.S. passed the Civil Rights Act because people were being purposefully left out. That is wrong. However this is the Kingdom of Hawai’i. It was unwillingly taken by the U.S. There is a question of inclusion here. Is a Hawaiian school wanting to stay Hawaiian different than a Christian, Catholic or Jewish school? There are schools that pick kids by money. Trump, Biden, Clinton, Bush, Case – their kids can go to schools our kids cannot. Is that fair? Many schools have entrance exams.

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?

Get people to admit it is real. Get with scientists and ask the speed and urgency of everything. Relay the information to the state. Hold town halls and ask what people think. This is a problem much bigger than me. I would really ask the Hawaiian and Polynesian people for a lot of advice. Also as the Green Party, we are international. We would be able to work with other countries better if the world were falling apart.

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?

No. Hawai’i has access to sun, hydro, thermal, wind and more. We would already be self-sufficient if not for 30-50 years of Democratic rule here. Nothing done. They have made a rail that is far over budget and way behind schedule. What if the rail had solar panels? What if these big new beautiful buildings had solar panels on them? Elevated roads or walkways with solar panels? Keep voting Democrat and you know you get what the duopoly gives you.

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?

I have found that most Hawaiians and Polynesians are against the militarized occupation of the Kingdom of Hawai’i. I’m personally against the instigative nature of the U.S. military in general. It is liberal conservative propaganda to insinuate a strong need for a military presence in Hawaiʻi. I would do everything in my power to get the U.S. military of this land. We should not have our military in any other country either. I am an anti-imperialist. In office I would fight to change the military.

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 over focus on Trump is why the duopoly, Epstein Class, keeps its power. Obama deported more people than Trump. Jumping back and forth between weak half policies is what the uniparty wants you to do. This is why the rich can travel to private islands and only take our kids. We need a fast policy for immigration. Get them a trial and see their need. Make a humane judgment. Every case is different.