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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 Kiana Kanahele, Democratic candidate for State House District 3, which covers a portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidlands Estate, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, portions of Kurtistown and Keaau. Her primary opponent is Christopher Todd.

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?

Addiction, houselessness, crime, the cost of living, health disparities, the lack of civic engagement — these prominent issues are being addressed symptomatically, but need to be looked at as a whole.

These issues are deeply rooted in historical government corruption and the collapse of the social and economic systems that historically kept us well as a multicultural Hawaii.

The holistic health (mind, body, spirit) of the collective is diminishing along with the personal relationships we’ve had to land, water and each other.

Legislators have not been concerned about these relations, so they are not in the communities they represent to connect with or hear their local constituents and the solutions they suggest. In addition to my political duty of voting for and introducing bills that align with “good government” and my personal duty to restore these complex multicultural systems of care, I plan to regularly attend community meetings and host monthly civic engagement sessions where food, transportation and child care is provided.

This is to increase accessibility for my district to discuss community issues and creative solutions that will inform my work during the legislative session.

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 I support more take-home money in the pockets of the people, I also recognize the ways this bill largely benefits those who make the most money. While low-income and middle-class families save just thousands of dollars, folks in higher tax brackets save tens of thousands, which largely aggregates to less funding for public education, welfare and services.

According to a March KHON2 news article by John Vaneri, “Critical services like crisis hotlines, food pantries and shelters for victims of domestic violence are at risk of reduced operation or closure. A 2022 survey revealed alarming statistics: 91% of nonprofits experienced government contract budgets falling short of operating costs, with 40% fearing they may not survive without intervention.”

I believe that for the most vulnerable among us, these services are the difference between life and death; this legislation has the capacity to leave those individuals without any support.

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 reduce corruption in government, civic engagement needs to be fun, accessible and inclusive to the lay community so that more “for-the-people” people run for office, and so that more community members are activated to vote them in.

This will require funds to cover the coordination of workshops and accessibility accommodations (food, child care, transportation). As a note, I plan to use campaign funds now via meet and greet-style gatherings, and to sustain these gatherings with personal funds if none are available elsewhere when I am elected.

In addition to funding civic engagement initiatives, legislators should have a deep relationship to both the word “ea,” used in the state motto, as well as the Apology Resolution (U.S. Public Law 103-150) that states that, “The Congress expresses its commitment to acknowledge the ramifications of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.”

This allows for the normalization of discussion on the overthrow, and for “radical natives” and the solutions they propose to the Legislature to be considered seriously rather than discredited.

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?

I will absolutely back good-government proposals even if it goes against state leadership. The leaders I revere, respect and bow in service to who have my allegiance are the farmers, teachers, elders, parents, students and families that I represent. They are who I am accountable to, and they support good government.

In my life of activism and public service, when good government was not supported or voted on, I’ve both testified at hearings and laid my physical body on the line to protect the communities who requested my support.

I know the physical consequences of corruption in my bones and it is my life work to stand against it.

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

While I don’t feel good about spending public funding on campaigning (branded pens, shirts, signs, banners with one person’s name and face on them), it’s important for underprivileged folks to have the opportunity to run for office with a fair shot.

Campaigning should involve meeting with and educating constituents of diverse backgrounds about how to engage and partake in civics and politics in a way that is fun and accessible.

An equitable way of doing this would involve providing child care, transportation and suitable provisions (food) for these gatherings, which I believe justifies the use of public funds.

I would hope that candidates spend the funding wisely, with as much of it being funneled back to the community as possible.

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

For readers who are unaware, a citizens initiative process would allow any citizen or organization to “gather a predetermined number of signatures to qualify a measure to be placed on a ballot, and to be voted upon in a future election.”

While I do support a citizens initiative process, I don’t believe that “the majority” of voters should be able to decide on every measure at this time, as only 59% of Hawaii’s adult population is registered to vote, and the measures being voted on would not represent the needs of the 41% of our adult population who are nonvoters.

In our current system of governance, anyone of any age is able to provide testimony to inform politicians and others about why they are in support or opposition of a measure.

I am hesitant (not opposed) to lend strong support for a citizens initiative, as the opportunity to provide testimony is not provided to those who decline to participate in the voting system.

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?

Although just leaders who fight hard for the people are uncommon in office today, I believe that once they get into office, we’ll want them to stay in.

I understand it takes some time for a representative to get settled into their role before they’re able to make significant movement in the Legislature, requiring longer terms for impactful change.

As time passes, and as more community leaders begin to run for office, more of Hawaii’s population will gain the power to vote incumbents out, and just leaders in — without term limits.

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?

I support requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature, as transparency and the preservation of the right to know is important to developing the trust and relationship between legislators and constituents.

I support banning campaign contributions during session to avoid any form of bribery.

Accountability is rare in legislation today because of how inaccessible the process and system is to the working class. I believe it is worthwhile to reconsider the times of day that legislative hearings are held, to accommodate working families to provide testimony on measures without missing work. Voters themselves have great potential to demand accountability if more of us are engaged.

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?

In addition to supporting the opening of conference committees to the public and stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying/ists, I am committed to using my personal platforms (social media, community relations, etc.) and those familiar to District 3 constituents (mailers, emails, texts, etc.) to provide legislative updates and shed light on the internal and external pressures that arise to influence the passing of certain bills.

On accessibility, many folks don’t know about the Public Access Room or much about civics at all, as they’re “just trying to get by.” Dinner, children, working multiple jobs — these things are a barrier that keeps families and constituents away from engaging with the legislative system.

If public engagement opportunities offered child care, food, openness and joy, events would be well attended. It’s the simplicity of these types of solutions that District 3 residents have been speaking on for years. In addition to just leaders in office, this is what would really make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to 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?

In an age where children are experiencing mental health issues, dying by suicide and beginning to drink, vape and smoke, more parents are becoming entrepreneurs and business owners to afford the time to connect with and heal their families.

In addition to the amount of funds made available to individuals and organizations through adjustments in the tax code (which I would vote on according to the needs of my constituents), we need to consider a non-fiscal approach to build the economy.

Local organizations should be given an opportunity to collaborate with each other (including the Hawaii Tourism Authority) directly in a way that is supported by the state. There should be a way for visitors, at-risk youth, former prisoners, kupuna, etc., to sign up to volunteer to support small farms and businesses, state organizations or even families who could use the manpower to clean yards/homes, feed the houseless, mend fishponds, clear out agricultural lands, etc.

Refocusing Hawaii’s economy to reflect sustainability through systems of community and interdepartmental collaboration has the potential to make great change. Building an economy where “jobs” heavily involve caring for the land and each other will be physically, mentally and financially beneficial.

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?

I know of people who make just $12 over the maximum monthly income to qualify for SNAP benefits and Medicaid. A short-term solution would be to increase the income eligibility limits (currently $1,215 per month for an individual) to allow folks who make more than that to qualify to receive benefits that are typically available a day after applying/qualifying. This will benefit thousands of Hawaii residents so that the monies they bring home can offset the high cost of living.

A long-term solution is to fund programs that teach and allow families to reconnect with the ʻike kūʻuna of their moʻokūʻauhau (traditional knowledge of their lineage). This involves supporting families to grow their own food and/or develop sustainable relationships with their local fishers, farmers, hunters and gatherers.

In my district, many folks are discussing the potential that Hawaii has to manufacture our own banana leaf plates and byproducts to address many waste issues using the land and proper stewardship of it. Allocating state funds to family farms and practitioners would allow for parents to stay home and raise their children in their loina ohana while contributing to the economy and the overall wellness of the people in the state.