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 Shannon Matson, nonpartisan candidate for Hawaiʻi County Council District 5 representing the communities of Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Orchidlands Estates, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, Eden Roc, Fern Forest Estates, mauka of Pāhoa Town, Kaohe Homesteads, Kamaili Homesteads, Kalapana, ʻOpihikao, Kehena and Kaimu.

Her nonpartisan opponents are Dawn Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder, Chantel Mākuaole-Perrin, Ikaika Rodenhurst and Seaula Jr Tupa’i.

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

I’m the most experienced candidate in my race, having served as both a legislative assistant for a state senator and currently working for a County Council member for 3+ years. I understand state and county government and how they often times struggle to work together. I will leverage that knowledge on day one to encourage them to work better together for all of us, taxpayers, funding these entities. Collaboration and continuing my work with community to address crucial needs are my main goals.

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

It may not be THE biggest, but it’s one of importance to me – dangerous dog owner accountability has gone unchecked for too long. After losing my father to loose dogs in Ocean View a couple of years ago and recently having my daughter attacked while on her bike in Hawaiian Acres this is a preventable issue I unfortunately know far too much about. We deserve to be safe in our neighborhoods to walk our dogs and ride our bikes. I have many doable solutions, but not enough space to share here.

Here’s one question from a constituent: How would you make it safer to get in and out of Puna?

We need state support on this one, an area I am experienced in. I would work with DOT and DOE, to improve our accessibility and emergency routes, encourage opportunities for more busing to reduce traffic concerns that increase during school days, and advocate for staggered school start times. These would both have an immediate impact on reducing traffic without high costs of building additional roads. See question up ahead for more on my ideas for traffic reduction specifically in/around Puna.

The county’s Homelessness and Housing Fund is due to expire in 2027 and some council members are skeptical that the fund has helped solve the problem. Would you vote to extend the fund, and what would you do to come to grips with this persistent problem?

I’d like to see the results of the ongoing audit on this subject. Currently, I am in favor of extending the date for this fund and agree with the council member who originally created this funding mechanism. If we aren’t solving the problem with these funds – how bad of a problem will we have without this funding support? I know the program isn’t perfect, but I believe we can work to address some of the shortcomings. Overall, we need to be doing more to prevent and end homelessness.

Vacation rentals — illegal or not — are often blamed for reducing availability of affordable housing on the Big Island. What steps should the county take to deal with the proliferation of vacation rentals and create more affordable housing?

I think this issue has gotten so complex over recent years I’d need an opportunity to sit down with stakeholders in my district to see how recent and currently proposed changes are impacting them. I believe limits and regulations are needed, but I’m not certain if those we’ve already implemented are working as intended. More affordable housing can be quickly created by incentivizing long term rentals by adjusting real property tax rates.

Half of Hawai‘i’s cesspools are on the Big Island – an estimated 49,000 –  and Mayor Kimo Alameda has already said the county will not meet the state’s 2050 deadline to convert them to cleaner systems. What steps should the county take to address the cesspool issue?

We need to be searching for additional funding and get creative on how to meet these goals. Additional private-public partnerships, or federal or state funds, need to be leveraged to encourage those who want to convert to convert. Let’s also continue to keep our minds open to aerobic digester systems and other new technology that may help us covert in our more rural communities. Mostly we need funding, let’s figure out how to prioritize that, our health depends on it!

What specific steps should the county take to relieve traffic congestion in and around Kailua-Kona and along the Puna-Kea‘au-Hilo corridor?

Above I address some ideas for state collaboration. Additionally, the county is supposed to have begun the Puna Alternate Route meetings and those are moving forward extremely slowly. As a council member I would be regularly checking in to see what I could do to assist and expedite those meetings. Yes, more turn and merge lanes would help in the interim, but what else is in the works? Those of us sitting in the traffic daily deserve regular updates, and if DPW needs support, let’s provide it.

Investors have sunk more than $500 million into the Pepe‘ekeo bioenergy plant known as Hu Honua or Honua Ola, but the plant has still been unable to begin producing power. Should the biomass energy plant be allowed to start operating? Why or why not?

What is currently preventing them from operating? Coverage I found is from a year ago. I don’t know all the specifics, but that would help me in making a decision. I told ILWU, I am 100% in support of worker’s rights, worker’s safety, and creating more good-paying jobs. I am also 100% for breathing clean air and having lowered energy costs. If Hu Honua is raising costs and/or creating pollution then that is not a winning plan for workers or anyone and they need to address that before opening.

Both the state and county are showing interest in expanding production of geothermal energy on Hawaiʻi island. What is your position on geothermal power, and what constraints should be placed on it?

Safety and pollution concerns have to come first. The PR campaign didn’t seem to go over very well, but if the Native Hawaiian community is not in favor of it, then I will be looking to them for guidance. There is no completely “clean” or renewable energy source that I am currently aware of but I believe it is important to weigh all the pros and cons to determine if we are doing more harm than good when making any decisions that directly impact people’s livelihoods and health.

What specific plans do you have to improve disaster preparedness and response on the Big Island?

I started and have grown our Hawaiian Acres Resilience Hub with the support of Vibrant Hawai’i. We just recently completed our first CPR/First Aid and Chainsaw Safety Training. Last Kona low storm we had power out for days and people trapped in their driveways due to downed trees. Now we have a crew of eight volunteers who can help in times like that. Our goal is to be so prepared for anything that we can take care of ourselves AND be ready to assist our nearby neighbors in times of disaster.

What should Hawaiʻi County do to get in front of climate change rather than just reacting and adapting to it?

Most of my district is on water catchment. Over the years we’ve seen lines at water refill stations grow as there are longer stretches without rain. We need to be increasing water stations, as well as putting a cap on how much water delivery companies can increase their prices during water emergency situations. Right now there is very little oversight on our rural water policies, including almost no education or testing opportunities for those on catchment. We need to have a better plan.

Hawai‘i has a long-stated goal of growing more of its own food. What would you do to further that effort toward increased food sustainability?

I will continue to advocate for funding and education for agriculture at the state & county level. My community of rural Puna Mauka, has incredible opportunities in this arena. I want Puna to become an example that the rest of the county & pae ʻāina replicates. My campaign has been giving away seeds to help encourage people to “plant food and grow community.” Our small farm is working to grow enough to feed our ‘ohana and our neighbors. I’ll create opportunities for all of us to do similar.