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 Skyler Workman, nonpartisan candidate for Kauaʻi County Council.

His opponents are Paul Noboru Applegate, Addison Bulosan, Trysten Fernandes Caberto, Mike Coots, Michelle Kaleiohi Correa, Billy DeCosta, Jeremy Haupt, Fern Ānuenue Holland, Keola Kaiminaauao, Arryl Kaneshiro, James Langtad, Thomas Lindsay Jr., Umi Martin, John Mattos, John Montemayor, Nelson Mukai, Yelena Okhman, Todd Ozaki, Michael Poai, Cheree Rapozo, Rachel M. Secretario, Taylor H. Shigemoto, Dane Smith, James Trujillo and Herman K. Wilson.

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 of council member, and why do you want the job?

I’m not the best for the job, I’m a seed of confidence for our community to invest in. What I offer is a dedication to who I’ve always been as a person. Someone who solves problems and makes sacrifices for those who need help. I’m the guy who stays at the end of parties to help clean up after working all day. I’m the one who offers what little money I have if I can still get what I need to survive. I want the job so that I can carry the voices of our community to those who need to hear it.

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

Kaua’i has reached a critical point where all the issues are big and need to be addressed immediately. We need to repair our infrastructure, create better sources of revenue, improve transportation, promote local business growth, create stability for homelessness, reduce our waste, and so much more. My goal is to start creating a web of sustainability with each project I bring to the table. Projects that will chip away at multiple issues at once while rejuvenating our community.

Here’s one question from a constituent: How are we going to deal with wild cat colonies?

Like pigs, chickens and birds, cats are only able to reproduce if we allow them to. Luckily their population is a bit more manageable than the others mentioned because they can be caught and neutered. I feel the best way to address this issue would be to invest more into the Kauaʻi Humane Society neutering service and businesses that promote adoption. Due to cats being recognized as pets, I’d like to avoid any options to eradicate populations unless the colonies are on land used to home local endangered species

There are nearly 14,000 cesspools on Kaua‘i that must be removed by 2050. With an average cost of $15,000 to $30,000 to convert to septic, how can the county help jumpstart cesspool replacements?

Instead of forcing a great expense on people who can’t afford it, the county should invest in smaller wastewater treatment plants across island and subsidize any potential cost to homeowners.

The median price for a single-family home on Kaua‘i has topped $1 million. What would you do to address the shortage of affordable housing?

My plan is to look into legal actions the county can take to reduce the amount of homes owned by investors. These are people who see our community as nothing more than a source of profit while living on the mainland. People who keep our island in a state of crisis to benefit themselves over the generations of families that call Kauaʻi home. Kauaʻi is a limited resources and we need to start treating it as one.

Kaua‘i’s landfill in Kekaha will soon run out of capacity. What should the county council do to address what could become a garbage crisis for the island?

We need to invest in curbside pickup to improve the separation of garbage before it hits the landfills. We also need to apply a larger-scale separation service to hotels, vacation rentals and the food industry, which I believe is a big source of our island’s bulk garbage and plastic. A more immediate action would be to grant faster permits and more money to non-profits like Ho’omalu Ke Kai so they can process a larger chunk of the island’s plastic into useable materials.

In recent years, Kaua‘i restructured property tax rates to widen the gap between rates for owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied property (i.e. vacation rentals, second homes) and dedicate a larger portion of those revenues to creating housing for residents. Do you support that move? Why or why not?

I support more taxes on owners of multiple homes that are rented to locals for profit but I don’t think we should overtax vacation rentals. To be specific, I do support taxing vacation rentals at a higher rate, just not so much that it completely cripples the industry. As for where the revenue goes, I think we spend too much on building houses that half of those (people) who need them can’t qualify for. What we need is a stable economy that offers better resources to sustain jobs and promote local innovation.

What would you do to encourage more local food production on Kaua‘i, balancing the needs and challenges of both small and large farmers?

Improve access to necessary resources like water, processing stations and more local markets. One of my top three goals is to create access to community workshops like public kitchens to increase demand for goods from local farms, allowing Kaua’i’s food supply to remain diverse and sustainable.

What is your assessment of programs combating invasive species on Kaua‘i and what other measures would you advocate for in office?

I believe they’re doing the best they can with what resources are available and I would encourage the council to offer a grant to allow a stronger response. Kauaʻi has a habit of waiting until problems have become unmanageable and I aim to be a voice that encourages a swifter response.

All of Hawai‘i has experienced damaging and dangerous weather events that have exposed weaknesses in our planning, preparation and response. Is Kaua‘i sufficiently prepared for the next Hurricane ʻIniki or Kona low system? Why or why not? What additional steps should the county take?

I believe another severe hurricane like ʻIniki would cripple the island more now than it did in the past. A lot of our aged infrastructure is already struggling from daily use and the trees surrounding our rivers and rural areas have become overgrown and dangerous. The best thing we could do to prepare is develop a community response organization that can guide volunteers to places that require assistance, offer emergency resources and keep information flowing.

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

Although I do believe in climate change, I think our island is a little too small to really make a dent in a problem that’s worldwide. Even if we were to convert all our energy to green energy, it wouldn’t affect our local climate in a way that would alter things like hurricane season. I can only encourage the county to invest in more reliable sources of energy or promote more actions toward a green environment

What would you do to ensure transparency and accountability in county government?

I plan to promote more clarity in government meetings and programs so the public understands what’s available to them. One of my goals is to establish a nonprofit that simplifies the statutory language used in government to encourage more involvement from the community. As for accountability, if actions are taken by the council that negatively impact our community I plan to be the voice of the people.