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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 Ken Inouye, Democratic candidate for state House District 37, which covers portions of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge and Waipio Gentry. His primary opponent is Trish La Chica.

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

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

When I walk door-to-door in our district, the most common concern is the high cost of living in Hawaii and the resulting economic pressures. Hard-working families worry about their children’s chances of finding good-paying jobs that allow them to stay in our state.

We need to truly achieve economic diversification for our state. We’ve been talking about it, but we need to make it a reality for our state’s economic strength and future. To start, we must become more food self-sufficient by growing more local foods and value-added food products.

Additionally, with my experience in the Motion Pictures Association of America, I believe Hawaii is a uniquely versatile location for the film industry. We are losing our talent to Hollywood. We should invest in our people and create local jobs in the film industry here in Hawaii. We have no shortage of talent here, just a shortage of jobs. We should invest more in this sector to diversify our overall economy.

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?

The tax cut is a necessary relief for residents facing Hawaii’s high cost of living. However, I’m concerned about its impact on state programs.

To prevent harmful service reductions, this tax cut must be revisited to address potential budgetary shortfalls and cuts in essential state services in the future.

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?

I think a greater focus should be given to enforcing existing campaign finance laws to make sure that all parties are in full compliance. Violators should be cited and violations should be made public and easy to find by members of the public. 

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 support good-government proposals. I believe that we need to restore trust in Hawaii’s government, and that an informed public is the best way to promote transparency in government. 

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

Voluntary public financing of elections seems like a promising solution to the problem of money in politics. However, I have some concerns about its implementation and overall effectiveness.

Given tight legislative budgets and at times, a divided electorate, taxpayers may oppose using tax dollars to fund campaigns, especially for candidates with controversial issues or views. 

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

I generally support the idea of statewide citizenship initiatives, but we should proceed cautiously. If our state passes such legislation, we must include safeguards to ensure transparency, clarity and alignment with legal frameworks.

I’m concerned that special-interest or well-funded groups could manipulate citizen initiatives through advertising. While citizen initiatives can address issues legislators often avoid and promote good government practices, safeguards are essential to prevent misleading initiatives.

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 believe the most effective way to ensure accountability is through an informed electorate that actively monitors their legislators’ performance and votes accordingly.

In general, I do not support term limits because I believe that every election serves as a term limit in itself. Drawing from my personal experience, I have observed that significant achievements such as securing substantial funding, initiating major projects or implementing impactful policies often require legislators to invest considerable time. This investment is crucial to accomplish genuine progress and success within their state or district.

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 strongly support the need to restore trust in Hawaii’s government. As a candidate for legislative office, I believe trust, honesty and integrity start with my own actions. I have a history of holding myself accountable and will continue to do so with the public and especially the voters in our district.

I support increased disclosures, including financial information and citations on interested parties involved in legislation. I also support campaign donation filings from legislators and registered lobbyists.

Additionally, I support banning campaign contributions during legislative sessions to reduce the likelihood of pay-to-play situations.

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?

I feel that strict disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists are key to helping improve public trust in the legislature.

I appreciate the Legislature’s recent expansion of its conference committee rules this year to announce the agreed upon and disagreed upon changes in the conference drafts of bills.

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?

We need to truly achieve economic diversification for our state. We’ve been talking about it, but we need to make it a reality for our state’s economic strength and future.

To start, we must become more food self-sufficient by growing more local foods and value-added food products. Additionally, I believe Hawaii is a uniquely versatile location for the film industry.

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?

As I go door-to-door in our district, I repeatedly hear about our community’s worries regarding the future. 

The cost of housing is the greatest factor in making our state unaffordable for the middle class. In our district, original homeowners purchased their homes in the 1960s-70s for prices ranging from $80,000 to $130,000. Today, new homeowners in areas like Mililani, Waipio Gentry, Koa Ridge and Mililani Mauka are facing home prices ranging from $900,000 to $1.2 million, resulting in monthly mortgage payments of $4,000 to $5,000.

Meanwhile, many renters are currently paying between $2,700 and $3,200 per month, struggling to save for their own future homes. 

These stories have deeply affected parents, who are increasingly worried about the impact of Hawaii’s high cost of living on their children’s ability to afford to live here in the future. 

My focus is on safeguarding our middle class and hard-working families by tackling issues like reducing housing expenses, lowering grocery and energy costs and ensuring accessible and affordable health care and medications. Additionally, I support establishing living and prevailing wages that align with the rising costs affecting our middle class.