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 Todd Ozaki, 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, Michael Poai, Cheree Rapozo, Rachel M. Secretario, Taylor H. Shigemoto, Dane Smith, James Trujillo, Herman K. Wilson and Skyler Workman.

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 prepared for this job, having worked in the private sector, supported my community as a coach, and having spent years in county government managing CIP projects, budgets, procurement, roads, public safety and facilities. I understand how ideas are funded, contracted and built and I can help the county move long-stalled projects forward. I’m running because county decisions directly affect local families. I want my kids to grow up on a Kauaʻi that balances growth and preserving culture.

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?

The biggest immediate threat is the landfill. Infrastructure, housing, homelessness and cost of living are major concerns, but if Kauaʻi loses solid waste capacity then public health and basic services are at risk. In my first six months, I would support funding for the landfill plan that is underway, push for clear milestones and regularly inform the public. Meanwhile, because these issues are connected I would simultaneously focus on other infrastructure needs.

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

Wild cat colonies impact residents, animal welfare groups, native wildlife, public health and county property. I would want the right parties at the table – residents, Kauaʻi Humane Society, conservation groups, DLNR and county departments – to review what has been tried, what has worked, what has failed and what different solutions would actually cost. Then we need a practical plan that is humane, enforceable and considers opportunity costs.

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?

The county has tried to help – including a $20,000 grant program – but that also shows the problem. For one, most conversions cost more than $15,000 to $30,000. Even with the grant, many families still cannot afford it. I support protecting water quality, but a mandate that households cannot realistically meet will fail. The county should work with the state to reassess true costs, funding, timelines, fairness to early adopters and what enforcement looks like if families simply cannot pay.

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?

Kauaʻi cannot solve global inflation or outside demand alone, but the county can stop making housing harder to build. I would focus on lowering project risk: clearer rules, faster reviews, infrastructure-ready county land and more public-private partnerships like Lima Ola. We also need more options, particularly smaller homes, since nearly a third of our island’s households are just one or two people. We can also measure what our housing dollars actually produce and double down on what works.

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?

Continue the current plan: Expand capacity at Kekaha to buy time and build the new landfill at Ma’alo Road. At this stage, pivoting to a new concept would be irresponsible because we are too close to a capacity crisis. Waste-to-energy and a materials recovery facility may be part of the future, but they will not replace the current capacity threat. We must learn from the past three decades. Once the new landfill is secured, we need to immediately begin planning for the next long-term solution.

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?

Yes, in general. Kauaʻi should protect resident homeowners and ask more from properties whose primary function is commercial rather than residential – making money from visitors rather than housing our residents. The revenues from these taxes have helped the county put more resources toward housing. I’ve heard propositions to widen the gap further. We need to weigh those impacts.

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

I support local food production, but we should be honest. Full food independence is unlikely and may not match what consumers actually want. One practical goal is making farming easier for those willing to do it. The county can focus on removing barriers: faster permitting, reliable water, roads and maximizing efficiency with proposals like gleaning and equipment sharing. Also, listening to farmers before creating policies that sound good but may not work in the field.

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

For invasive species programs, speed matters. Once pests like CRB are established, catching up becomes much harder. I would support early detection, rapid response and analysis of its effectiveness. I would insist on common-sense safeguards: solutions should not create new risks for residents, other species or the safety of our food supply. Fast action, but responsible action. As we have seen with CRB, coqui frogs and fire ants, slow response time increases the problem.

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 Iniki or Kona low system? Why or why not? What additional steps should the county take?

Regarding hurricanes, Kauaʻi is perhaps best prepared because we remember ʻIniki and have seen recent Kona lows, but “sufficiently prepared” is subjective. Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency and county responders take this seriously, and each event shows new places to improve: bridges, culverts, drainage, shelters and communication. The county should keep hardening infrastructure and enhancing resilience. Residents also need personal plans. Government response matters, but so does individual responsibility.

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

It is key to make practical decisions before emergencies force them — strengthen or move roads, bridges, drainage and wastewater systems; avoid putting new infrastructure in coastal hazard areas and use good data for coastal planning. Plans must be realistic. Relocating whole communities or rebuilding coastlines is expensive and disruptive. We need to protect people and the environment without implementing solutions that punish families, businesses or basic services.

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

Transparency is more than posting agendas and records. Residents should be involved early, before frustration builds around projects/policies that affect them. Accountability means asking tough questions, tracking measurable deliverables, and following up when timelines or promises are not kept. My budget, CIP and project management experience helps me understand what is moving, what is stuck, and why. The county council’s oversight should make information clearer and performance more visible.