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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 Sonny Ganaden, Democratic candidate for state House District 30, which covers Kalihi, Kalihi Kai, Keehi Lagoon and Hickam Village. His primary opponent is Shirley Templo.

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?

The increase in the cost of living as compared to wages is pushing the middle class out of Hawaii. I continue to support measures that give tax breaks and incentives to families to allow them to continue to raise their families here, and policies that advance the wages and rights of workers. 

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?

I voted in support of the 2024 legislative budget, which included many necessary portions which keep our government running, supports mental health services, supported the rebuilding of Maui and continues the trend of injecting needed funds to public education.

A tax cut was necessary as many local families are being priced out of our economy, and even a few extra hundred dollars a year might make the difference between staying and leaving for other opportunities.

Like many others, I have concerns that a drastic tax cut will impair future state governmental services and our ability to invest in the future of the islands. There are innumerable instances of governments on these islands enacting policy which, in retrospect, hurt working class communities or made life harder. There are many positions in state governmental departments which take years to fill as they are not paid comparably to the private sector. Other projects take years to see fruition.

Though the tax cut was necessary in 2024, it is likely the state Legislature will revisit property taxes, the role of the counties in taxation and other forms of income including from the U.S. Department of Defense for leased land 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 believe the vast majority of my colleagues are ethical, honest individuals who seek to serve their communities. Corruption exists at all levels of power.

The most important reform for the United States would come from a total ban on super-PAC donations, and the existence of donating and fundraising oversight similar to our state at the federal level. 

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?

Over the last four years, I found myself disagreeing with colleagues often. I have proceeded in a way that is straightforward and on the record. Civil disagreement is a cornerstone of our democracy. 

There have been many instances where I stuck my neck out — I have taken public and unpopular positions against the U.S. military, voted no on the legislative budget in 2023, supported the legalization of cannabis and evidence-based reforms to our justice system and fought for the rights of recent immigrants.

In 2021, I was the only legislator to demand a state and federal investigation of the fuel tanks at Red Hill, prior to environmental disaster. When people and the environment were poisoned, I wrote in defense of future generations’ access to clean water, citing human rights, native law that predates America and poems. It was one of the few times I’ve been certain in my heart — quiet moments of research led to very public nightly news, marches and artwork. I am most proud of how I didn’t fall into cynicism.

They recently emptied those tanks, though the work to clean the land and sea remains, as does the work to free ourselves from an economy based on war. 

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

Yes. I voted to defer the bill this year as I was confused regarding the way the state would fund county elections.

I apologize to advocates of public financing of elections for the failure of our Legislature to pass the bill in 2023 and 2024. I think it is a worthy endeavor, and hope to continue to work on the issue in the next legislative session. 

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

Yes. 

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?

No. Terms are discussed every two years for House members and every four years for senators at the ballot. The public can throw politicians out like diapers, for the same reason.

There is a significant amount of turnover in the state House as a result of elections, and a constant reshuffling of our political deck. Losing more institutional knowledge would be against the wishes of voters and, as has happened in states which experimented with term limits, would lead to an outsized influence of lobbyists, corporate PACs and despotic department heads (all staffed by former legislators looking for employment) who would capitalize on a lack of knowledge about the intricacies of state government, procurement and management.

Many elected officials have no “war chest” of campaign donations, and see ourselves as overly glorified public servants. Many of our names were unknown until they were repeated ad infinitum at our neighbors’ doorsteps.

We should be aiming to remove dark PAC money from state elections — those organizations that do not need to disclose their donors, and can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals and advocacy groups to support or attack candidates. 

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?

Government deserves skepticism. But I’ve found so many of us here just doing the best we can with the limited tools and time we have.

I believe the rules as they are regarding meetings are valid and essential to the work of developing legislation. I supported the banning of contributions during legislative session to dissuade from the appearance of pay-to-play politics. 

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 would like to increase funding and outreach of the Public Access Room at the Legislature, in collaboration with state libraries and high schools to increase participation in the legislative session. 

I would also like to explore the idea of expanding the timeline of the legislative session as even seasoned professionals miss important work because of our short session. 

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?

I proudly represent an urban district where people work hard in the tourism industry. Corporate hotels have been slow to rehire unionized and nonunionized workers this year despite soaring stocks. This has led to significant stress for workers and a reliance on the state to fill the needs in unemployment and support. The state may need to mandate that daily room cleanings occur, and that hotels are staffed commensurate with bookings.

I reiterate a need for local ownership of our tourism industry. Profits are shipped overseas. Workers should own hotels as cooperatives. Workers themselves should be the majority stockholders in the visitor industry here on the islands. Thousands of people in Kalihi have given their best working years to make Honolulu an international destination, so they should have the first say in who manages the industry, and how profits align with values.

Government must pass laws and support economic intermediaries that help finance worker co-op transitions, changing the leadership of the hotel industry from foreign asset managers to local employee-owned companies.

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?

The government — including our federal delegation, our state Legislature, the executive and our counties — must find all ways possible to constrain the costs of housing and goods for middle class families.

This means advancing local economies, taxing out-of-state corporations and changing the law regarding how the housing market operates. I do not have all the answers as I have spent an adult life being skeptical of capitalism to find answers to societal questions.

Many of the things that make Hawaii special — our diversity, our fragile ecosystem, our support of organized labor — must be preserved at all costs by the state government. As artificial intelligence technology threatens many white-collar professions, we can support the work that only humans can do, not limited to existing working class jobs and careers in the arts.

I hope to continue to do my part to prepare Hawaii for a changing 21st century.