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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 James Forrest, candidate for Maui County Council Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu District. The other candidate is Alice Lee.

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?

Please vote and talk to friends and family about voting in local elections. Don’t miss the opportunity to make real changes in Maui County just because you may be tired of presidential politics.

The primary thing the people of Maui County need to do now to recover from the fires is elect new leadership. New leadership is important because the County Council has the power to regulate land use, water rights, environmental protection and where and how to develop housing. These things matter.

Over the past year, local groups like Lahaina Strong showed up at the Legislature and developed comprehensive plans for Lahaina’s recovery. These plans put local needs above the profits of developers. Without new leadership, these plans will be ignored just like the Maui Island Plan and the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan.

This is important for Maui’s recovery after the fires because the incumbent continues to make development decisions that help luxury developers instead of helping locals.

Please go to my website to learn about my solutions and about Maui’s Ohana and ʻOnipaʻa candidates. 

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

Tourists and wealthy non-residents drive up property values, further exacerbating issues for locals. 

First, all public officials should pledge to refuse campaign donations from luxury home and hotel developers. Our people need to know that we aren’t owned by corporations.

Second, we must show the people that we are committed to fundamental changes in our economy. Tourism is not inherently bad, but corporate greed has harmed the islands for too long. Luxury hotels have marginalized locals for generations. While raking in record profits, their workers can’t afford housing and food.

Maui County has been complacent, allowing plantation era crimes against humanity to continue today.  

Maui County can significantly raise property taxes on our largest luxury hotels. Luxury hotels enjoy significant revenue from the tourism industry while contributing to the rising cost of living and housing shortages. By targeting these establishments with higher property taxes, Maui County can tap into a lucrative revenue stream without directly burdening local families or small businesses. Revenue generated would go into the Affordable Housing Fund to help workers with housing costs.

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

I support the new law because it allows local control over these important decisions. For local control to help and not cause more problems, we need new leadership at the Maui County Council.

Maui County can effectively regulate short-term rentals (STRs) and shut down those owned by non-residents to address the housing crisis and preserve community integrity. Non-resident-owned STRs often drive up property values and rents, making it difficult for local families to afford housing. By regulating STRs, Maui County can ensure that the limited housing supply is available for residents rather than tourists.

Regulations could include requiring STR owners to prove primary residency, limiting the number of STR permits issued to non-residents, and strictly enforcing zoning laws. These measures would curb the influx of investor-owned STRs that exacerbate housing shortages. Additionally, shutting down non-resident owned STRs can redirect focus and resources toward long-term rental opportunities for locals, enhancing community stability.

Regulation can help Maui County retain the culture of its communities by reducing transient populations and promoting long-term residency. Through these measures, Maui County can better address its housing challenges while ensuring that tourism contributes positively without displacing its residents. 

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

Envisioning the future of Lahaina must involve a careful balance of historical preservation, immediate community needs, sustainable development and cultural sensitivity.

My vision for Lahaina begins with restoring the ahupuaʻa to how it was before the plantation era theft of land and water created the monopoly of resources that was later inherited by the hotels.

My vision for Lahaina isn’t something that I have to make up, I just have to look back and appreciate traditional practices and values that created the original thriving community of Native Hawaiians. Restore flowing streams, rebuild Mokuula, reestablish native plants, and correct the repeated mistakes of poor land management. That will lay a solid foundation to support a community of new homes, schools and local businesses that live in harmony with the environment.

Rebuild Lahaina in a way that honors its rich history as a former royal capital and a hub of Hawaiian culture. That includes implementing green building practices to create sustainable, resilient infrastructure that can withstand future environmental challenges.

It’s crucial to ensure transparency in the decision-making process by making meeting minutes, plans and budgets publicly available. We need to support advisory committees that include representatives from different sectors of the community. 

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

First, all public officials should pledge to refuse campaign donations from luxury home and hotel developers. Our people need to know that we aren’t owned by corporations.

Second, we should honor the will and voice of the people. In 2020, a huge majority, 68.5% of Maui County voters, passed a Charter Amendment to limit council member terms to 10 years total. A loophole allowed politicians to get a reset even though they had already served 10 years. The incumbent has now been in office for 16 years. We need new leadership that actually listens to the will of the people. 

Third, we must strengthen campaign finance laws so corporations can’t buy elections. 

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

Maui County needs to end private ownership of our water system. Then, we need to ask ourselves, what would Lucienne de Naie do? The answer takes more than the 200 words I have here to explain. Please go to my website to review and comment on my solutions.

Maui County must prioritize water resource management to ensure a sustainable future. As an island community, Maui relies heavily on finite freshwater sources, which are increasingly threatened by climate change, overuse and pollution. Effective water management is crucial for maintaining agriculture, preserving natural ecosystems and supporting the local population and tourism industry.

Maui County should also raise water rates for luxury hotels to generate additional revenue for affordable housing. Luxury hotels are significant water consumers, and higher rates would provide a substantial funding stream without burdening local residents. The additional revenue could be earmarked to develop and maintain affordable housing, addressing the pressing need for more accessible living options for low- and middle-income families.

Additionally, higher water costs would incentivize hotels to adopt more sustainable water practices, benefiting the environment. This approach ensures that the tourism industry contributes fairly to the community’s welfare, fostering a more balanced and inclusive local economy. 

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

First, we need to get out of the 1980s. The incumbent is a career politician who started in the 1980s and she has fought against environmental protection.

Maui County has the opportunity to elect a majority or super-majority of progressive candidates that believe in climate change and are ready to take immediate action to combat it. This may be the single most important issue of this election for local people. 

I am an environmental attorney with a proven track record of winning for the environment. I spent January through May at the Hawaii Legislature working on renewable energy solutions for Hawaii.

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?

I believe housing is a human right. Maui needs new leadership that will implement the policies in the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan. Housing champions like Council Member Gabe Johnson used the plan to draft meaningful new laws that are in effect today and helping people today. The current majority is supported by developers so it is no surprise that it has done nothing to enact policies from the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan. Instead, they have served the needs of the developers that got them elected.

I believe affordable housing developments must be 100% affordable and have deed restrictions that ensure they stay affordable forever. That will begin the process of building a permanent supply of affordable housing. When I was a legislative attorney for the council, I fought to help pass a law that gave long-time local residents a preference when the county was awarding affordable housing to eligible residents. I am a creative and positive-thinking attorney who understands how to make the law work for the people. 

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

I got my start in legislation working on transportation issues in Austin, Texas, with a focus on complete streets. Specifically, I fought for more biking lanes and safe routes to school programs.

Improving Maui’s transportation problems requires a comprehensive, region-specific strategy that addresses both immediate and long-term needs. Expanding and enhancing public transit is essential. Increasing the frequency, coverage and reliability of the Maui Bus system can make it a more attractive option. Our buses can also help reduce carbon emissions by converting to biodiesel today. Existing diesel buses just need to go to a different gas station for this to happen. This common sense solution is caught up in old political games.

Long-term solutions involve significant infrastructure investment and sustainable transportation initiatives. Upgrading key roadways and intersections, constructing bypass roads around congested areas, and developing more bike lanes and pedestrian pathways can enhance safety and efficiency.

Finally, integrated land use planning is essential. Encouraging mixed-use development can reduce the need for long commutes by integrating residential, commercial and recreational spaces. Combining these strategies can create a more efficient, sustainable and accessible transportation system for Maui’s diverse regions. Solutions are out there waiting for new leadership to implement.