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Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Aug. 10 Primary Election, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following came from John Choi, Democratic candidate for state House District 20, which includes Leahi, Kahala, Waialae, Kaimuki and Kapahulu. His primary opponents include James Logue, Tina Nakada Grandinetti, George Hooker and Kevan Wong.

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

1. What is the biggest issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

If I had to narrow it down to just one overall issue, it would be homelessness, which has doubled in the past decade, with a 12% increase over last year. Other big issues are parking (monster homes), traffic safety (speeding), pedestrian safety (lack of sidewalks) or traffic noise depending on which neighborhood and street you live on.

I support a homeless permit system, to be renewed every 90 days, paired with free medical checkups. This system will help us gather accurate data on the homeless population, and assist families in locating homeless relatives.

Additionally, I support achieving “Functional Zero,” which means getting newly homeless individuals into housing within the first 90 days of becoming homeless. By providing immediate assistance and housing solutions, we can effectively address and reduce the increasing rates of homelessness. 

2. How do you feel about the massive income tax cut just approved by the Legislature and the governor? Do you have any concerns that it will force reductions in state services in the years to come?

While the recent income tax cuts are a step in the right direction, we didn’t do enough for the working class. The deductions are progressive, with lower taxes for lower incomes and higher taxes for higher incomes. However, lower-income taxpayers are less likely to itemize their deductions, meaning the benefits are skewed toward higher-income earners.

We can balance the budget and maintain state services by leveraging technology to reduce costs and shifting some tax burdens to visitors. Using advanced technology will make state services more efficient and cost-effective.

Hawaii’s natural beauty is a significant asset. Taxing visitors is a fair way to generate revenue, especially if this money is directly distributed to Hawaii residents. This approach can reduce the financial burden on local residents while maintaining the quality of our state services.

3. Hawaii continues to struggle with pay-to-play politics and corruption in government. What meaningful reforms do you think would change state government for the better?

To combat pay-to-play politics and corruption in Hawaii, we need meaningful reforms. During the 2024 legislative session, we had a chance to pass bills for publicly financed elections (SB 1543) and to prevent employees of companies with government contracts from donating to politicians (HB 96, SB 201). Unfortunately, these bills were not passed.

I am committed to pushing for these bills every year until they become law. Reducing the influence of big money in our political system is crucial for genuine progress and innovation. Our government should answer to the people, not to big money donors.

My vision is clear: A Hawaii where politics is free from the undue influence of big money and where opportunities benefit all residents. I am dedicated to these principles and ready to guide Hawaii toward a more equitable and prosperous future. By enacting these reforms, we can reclaim our political process and ensure decisions reflect the will and needs of the people of Hawaii.

4. Candidates often say they will support reform proposals in the Legislature. And yet major reform proposals don’t pass. Will you back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership? If you are an incumbent, can you point to an example of a reform that you supported?

Yes, I will back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership (good leadership should back reform legislation).

5. Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate? Why or why not?

Yes, I fully support comprehensive public financing of elections. This approach is essential for creating a fairer political system in Hawaii.

Currently, candidates must raise and spend large amounts of money to win elections. This process favors those with money connections and detracts from focusing on the needs of the community. Public financing ensures all candidates start with the same resources, making elections about ideas and leadership, not money.

By giving all candidates the same amount to run their campaigns, we encourage them to be budget-conscious and creative. This is exactly what we want from our elected officials — being smart with public funds and finding innovative solutions.

Public financing also reduces the risk of corruption and undue influence from big donors, ensuring our representatives are accountable to everyone, not just the big money interests. It fosters trust and transparency in our political system.

Adopting public financing of elections will help us build a healthier, more democratic future for Hawaii, where every candidate has an equal chance to succeed and every voice can be heard.

6. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process. Do you support such a process? Why or why not?

Yes. I support a statewide citizens initiative process. It will lead to numerous innovations to serve the constituents more effectively in District 20 and throughout Hawaii. The people can make substantial change in law without the elected officials. A good example of a statewide citizens initiative is Proposition 13 in California, where voters passed a law to limit property tax increases.

7. Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity, incumbents are almost always reelected in Hawaii legislative races. Should there be term limits for state legislators, as there are for the governor’s office and county councils? Why or why not?

I believed that term limits were a good idea. I spoke to an experienced and well-liked legislator who said that it takes a good 10 years to learn the job of being a legislator and to do it well. It is a slippery slope because, while I agree with the concept of term limits, that could have a negative impact when exceptionally good legislators are forced to retire because of term limits.

I am not sure what the effect would be on efficiency of the government. Term limits should not be viewed in isolation. Like any complex system, the interconnectedness of the political eco-system may result in unintended consequences. Term limits may result in the unintended consequence of handing the reigns over to lobbyists, who already have a hand on them. The ultimate goal is more power to the people and to level the playing field for the people against large money interests.

I will support term limits if my research concluded that it would help achieve clean elections and close loopholes that allow pay-to-play.

Currently only 16 states have term limits. Six other states had term limits, and later repealed them.

8. What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature? Do you support ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session?

Yes. Together, we must ensure accountability. Yes, I support the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature. I support banning campaign contributions during the legislative session. I support government-funded elections.

9. How would you make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to the public? Opening conference committees to the public? Stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists? How could the Legislature change its own internal rules to be more open?

 To make the Legislature more transparent and accessible, I propose the following measures:

Open conference committees: I strongly support opening conference committees to the public, ensuring that all legislative discussions are accessible and transparent.

Stricter disclosure requirements: We need stricter disclosure requirements for lobbying and lobbyists. This includes clear and detailed reporting on who is lobbying, on whose behalf, and about what issues.

Public scrutiny of all meetings: I advocate for opening all legislative meetings to public scrutiny. Transparency is key to building trust between the government and its citizens.

Stronger penalties for unregistered lobbyists: I support imposing stiffer penalties on individuals who act as lobbyists but fail to register. If it walks like a duck, it should be treated like a duck. Ensuring compliance with registration rules is crucial for accountability.

These measures will help create a more open, honest and accountable Legislature, fostering greater trust and engagement from the public.

10. Many people have talked about diversifying the local economy for many years now, and yet Hawaii is still heavily reliant on tourism. What, if anything, should be done differently about tourism and the economy?

Tax incentives.

To diversify Hawaii’s economy and reduce our heavy reliance on tourism, we should focus on developing key sectors such as agriculture, high tech, film and arts and sports through targeted tax incentives. Here are my proposals:

Tax incentives for agriculture: We need to increase support for local agriculture. The pandemic showed us the risks of relying on imported food. By incentivizing local farming, we can ensure food security and create jobs.

Promoting high tech, film and arts: Like the tax incentives that boosted the electric car industry, we can use similar strategies to attract high tech companies, film productions and artists to Hawaii. This will diversify our economy and create high-paying jobs.

Eco-friendly tourism model: Implement a per-day tax on visitors, similar to Bhutan’s eco-friendly model. This tax would generate significant revenue, which can be reinvested into our communities and distributed to residents.

Sports development: Invest in sports infrastructure and events to attract athletes and tourists alike, adding another layer to our economy.

At our peak, we hosted 11 million visitors per year, each spending an average of 8.5 days here. By diversifying our economy, we can reduce our dependence on tourism and create a more stable, prosperous future for all Hawaii residents.

11. An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by, a problem that reaches far beyond low-income and into the middle class, which is disappearing. What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here?

To support Hawaii’s middle class and working families, I propose several key initiatives:

Visitor tax for resident subsidies: Implement a per-day tax on visitors and use the revenue to provide monthly, quarterly or annual subsidies to residents. Think Bhutan.

Affordable housing: Increase the availability of affordable homes and scrutinize developers who are land-banking without progressing on permitted projects. We need to define eligibility for affordable housing as  individuals earning 80% or less of the average median income (approximately $60,000 per year or less).

Affordable rentals: Build affordable rental units to help younger residents build equity and secure stable housing.

Education costs: Reduce the burden of tuition and fees by bringing University of Hawaii tuition decisions back under legislative control.

Support for small farmers: Make it easier for small farmers to sell their products at farmers’ markets, helping to lower food costs.

Tax relief and homeowner’s exemption: Lower taxes, as initiated by the Legislature, and increase the homeowner’s exemption to ease the financial burden on residents.

These measures will create a more equitable and prosperous future for all Hawaii residents.