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Editor’s note: For Hawaii’s Nov. 5 General 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 Carol Lee Kamekona, candidate for Maui County Council Kahului District. The other candidate is Tasha Kama.

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

1. Clearly, Maui County faces big issues related to the fires. What’s the primary thing Maui needs to do now to recover from the fires?  

The most urgent need for Maui County post-fires is addressing the extreme lack of affordable housing. This issue has plagued Maui for years — it’s not new. The fires have exacerbated this crisis and we have seen it unravel the fabric of our community with at least 4,000 fire survivors making the disheartening decision to move off island.

We must update the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan’s recommendations to include our affordable housing needs after the fires, and then we have to finally implement the plan – no more delays. This requires an updated, efficient system for permitting and financing that prioritizes local residents over off-island investors.

Additionally, we should adopt policies that promote equity and access to affordable mortgage financing so that housing costs do not exceed 31% of a household’s income and guarantee subsidies. Expanding the Affordable Housing Fund to cover infrastructure costs and housing supports is necessary to do this.

This approach, combined with targeted investments in infrastructure and housing support, will ensure we can meet the needs of our local full-time residents, allowing them to rebuild their lives and create a sustainable future where every local resident has a place to call home.  

2.  What should Maui do to encourage people to stay? What can the county do to ensure that families aren’t priced out? 

To encourage residents to stay in Maui County, we need comprehensive measures addressing both affordability and quality of life. This starts by limiting offshore investments and imposing higher taxes on non-resident owners to deter speculative buying, a primary source of hyperinflation in housing for local residents.

We must work closely with state legislators and workers to push for wages that align with Maui’s high cost of living, ensuring families can thrive without resorting to multiple jobs. Prioritizing resident-first projects, such as generational housing, will provide stable and affordable living options for local families, ensuring they can stay and prosper.

We should institute rental caps to keep housing costs in check and implement deed restrictions on county-financed affordable housing that balance the county’s ability to recover investments while allowing families to build generational wealth by capturing some appreciation at sale. However, these properties must be deed-restricted to prevent them from becoming second homes.

Finally, we must ensure that more housing is owned by local full-time residents in perpetuity, creating a sustainable and thriving community where local families can live and prosper without the constant threat of being priced out. 

3. Do you support the new state law that allows counties to regulate and even shut down short-term rentals? Why or why not? 

Yes, I absolutely support the new state law; it is essential for Maui’s future. Short-term rentals have significantly contributed to the housing crisis by increasing prices and reducing availability. By regulating non-resident use of residential properties, we can prioritize housing for locals, ensuring Hawaiians and long-time residents aren’t priced out of Maui.

Some claim reducing short-term rentals will catastrophically impact tax revenues, tourism and incomes. But the real crisis hit when Lahaina burned down — that’s when the sky truly fell. Legal short-term rentals and hotels haven’t been operating at full occupancy; tourists will find places to stay, just not at the Minatoya list rates.

We need a more progressive property tax system, taxing non-resident owners and higher-value properties at higher rates. Additionally, commercial use in conservation districts should be taxed at commercial rates. This ensures the burden doesn’t fall on local residents while generating necessary revenue.

This law would empower Maui County to safeguard land rights and maintain control over zoning and land use, aligning with the historical importance of home rule championed by Prince Kuhio. By prioritizing local residents and creating a fair tax system, we can build a sustainable Maui now and for our seven generations.  

4. What’s your vision for Lahaina? How should it be rebuilt and who should decide?

My vision for Lahaina is to reconstruct it as a sustainable community that deeply respects and honors its historical significance as the first Kingdom of Hawaii. Education about its history, including the stories of Hawaiian Alii like Kauikeouli — Kamehameha III, the namesake of the elementary school that burned in the fire, should be central to this effort.

Lahaina’s generational ohana and cultural practitioners must have a primary voice in the rebuilding process to ensure that the town’s heritage is not only preserved but also respected.

Lahaina was once called “the Venice of the Pacific” due to its abundant water flow, which sustained the community. Unfortunately, Lahaina’s natural resources were mismanaged during the plantation era, leading to its current state.

To rebuild, we must rectify these historical injustices by implementing sustainable land and water management practices. This approach will ensure Lahaina is not only a place of historical reverence but also a thriving, sustainable community for future generations. 

5. What should elected officials do to restore trust in county government? 

To rebuild trust in county government, we need measures that enhance transparency, accountability, and community engagement. Hawaii has a reputation for government corruption, so strengthening the existing Ethics Board is crucial to prevent conflicts of interest and unethical practices. We should also consider establishing an Ethics and Accountability Office that functions independently from Corporation Counsel.

Town hall meetings aren’t just for election season. Holding regular town hall meetings throughout the year, with participation from all council members regardless of their residency area, will keep the community engaged and informed, building trust through consistent and open dialogue.

We should improve the user-friendliness of public data systems and ensure public information requests are handled efficiently and transparently. Introducing participatory budgeting will give residents a direct say in how public funds are spent, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. Diverse representation on committees is essential, actively including individuals from underrepresented groups, such as parents with kids at home, regular working people, and those who have experienced houselessness.

These steps will ensure a government that truly represents and serves its community.  

6. Do you think Maui County should do more to manage water resources? Why or why not? 

Yes, Maui County should do more to manage its water resources. For over a century, the diversion of streams for plantation use has caused severe ecological and cultural damage. In Hawaii, water is constitutionally protected as a public trust, and its management should reflect that principle.

Implementing the East Maui Water Authority to oversee water resources is a great start. Expanding this authority or establishing other regional water authorities, such as a Na Wai-Eha Authority or a Lahaina Water Authority, would follow a collaborative governance model to ensure that water remains a public trust across Maui County and is not exploited for private profit.

This approach will ensure sustainable water use, benefiting both the local community and the island’s ecosystem. By supporting traditional agricultural practices like taro farming and sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices, we can recharge our aquifers while securing the island’s water supply. Implementing sustainable water management practices allows us to rectify historical injustices and ensure a reliable water supply for all residents. By doing so, we can protect our natural resources, support cultural traditions, and promote long-term ecological health for Maui. 

7. What is the first thing Maui County should do to get in front of climate change rather than just reacting to it? 

To proactively address climate change, Maui County should prioritize updating building codes to require energy-efficient, all-electric systems for new construction. Adopting the highest energy conservation standards will ensure long-term sustainability.

Emphasizing the use of sustainable construction materials and designing buildings to be resilient to high winds and fires will help protect against extreme weather events.

Improving our transit systems by adding express routes and increasing ridership, especially in high-density areas, can reduce car dependency, traffic congestion, and lower emissions.

Investing in our fragile health care infrastructure is critical to prepare for climate-related health emergencies and improve community resilience; specifically programs that incentivize our keiki to go into healthcare career fields and continue living in Maui County.

Lastly, focusing on sustainable agriculture will reduce our reliance on imported food, which is estimated to be almost 90% imported, and will help increase the resilience of our local food supply.  

8. Homelessness is becoming more of an issue on Maui. What do you think needs to be changed to help people get into housing, and stay housed? 

To effectively reduce homelessness, Maui County should implement managed encampments and embrace the Housing First model. Managed encampments, like the puuhonua encampment, provide immediate, dignified shelter where residents contribute to daily operations, fostering responsibility and community. These encampments can also serve as transitional housing, facilitating the move to permanent homes. Ensuring these solutions include access to supportive services such as health care, job training and counseling is critical. 

While building more housing is important, relying solely on developers without integrating supportive services does not address the root causes of homelessness. Additionally, the cost to build a unit of housing in Maui County is estimated at $300,000 or more, which is not affordable for the houseless population without substantial county and state incentives.

Housing First has proven effective in rapidly re-housing individuals and providing supportive services to help them stay housed and managed encampments can provide immediate relief when it is most needed. By integrating these models and ensuring wrap-around services are readily accessible, we can create a sustainable and humane solution to homelessness on Maui. Our goal should be that no one goes houseless.

9. Traffic is getting worse on Maui, and different regions face different challenges. What would be your approach to improve Maui’s transportation problems? 

To improve transportation on Maui, we should focus on enhancing our public transit system and implementing policies that reduce traffic congestion. Establishing express bus routes with limited stops will significantly cut down on travel times for long-distance commuters. Additionally, expanding local bus routes to include more stops at crucial locations such as medical facilities, government offices and grocery stores will make public transit more accessible and convenient for residents.

Introducing an impact fee on car rentals can help fund these improvements and discourage tourists from adding to traffic congestion. Encouraging increased ridership on public transit can reduce car dependency, alleviate traffic congestion, and lower emissions, creating a more sustainable and efficient transportation system for Maui.