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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 Ashley Oyama, Republican candidate for state House District 5, which covers portions of Keaau and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pahala, Punaluu, Naalehu, Waiohinu, Hawaiian Ocean View and Hookena. Her opponents are Democrat Jeanne Kapela and Libertarian Fred Fogel.

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?

The biggest issue facing my district is the lack of support when it comes to our children. I see this prominently in education. Chronic absenteeism has been an issue long before Covid. Lack of accountability, transportation and recreation are all contributing factors.

Between insufficient transit and inadequate means of resources that remain unavailable to our keiki, we are doing them the ultimate disservice. It shouldn’t be a struggle for children to come to school. This remains a major issue due to shortage of transportation, whether it be the deficit of buses or the employees needed to drive them.

Schools are operating on half the buses needed to carry out transportation effectively. The Board of Education provides a program to train and license drivers, who are severely needed, however, a pay increase is crucial to incentivize this demand.

Parks and a sports complex need to be prioritized for the livelihood of our keiki. There is no excuse as to why slides are boarded up, basketball courts are locked and lights arenʻt working. A sports complex is needed in districts that are heavily utilized for public extracurricular activities. We need to support the whole child development of our keiki by prioritizing these things.

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 cuts in taxes may sound appealing, the real question is whether or not it’ll have the positive impact it alludes. Iʻve come to learn that when something “great” happens in one area, there tends to be a downfall in another.

It is awesome to hear of this massive income tax cut but in all honesty, I do hope it benefits the right groups of people.

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?

It is unfortunate that the bills and measures that have been introduced to address these issues either never see a reading or are killed. Our representatives need to do a better job of actually wanting change instead of just speaking about it. The citizens are getting tired of baseless words that have zero follow-through.

Before any reform can be passed, the state representatives should really take a good look at who they represent and what the needs of their constituents are.

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?

I will back good-government proposals if and when it benefits the constituents that I represent and serve. I will take action for families and the community when the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

Reforms to education need to be prioritized by all members in the Legislature. Times are changing and quality reforms must be passed to support our keiki and schools with the input of all stakeholders (parents and communities).

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

In my opinion as a voter and concerned citizen, having a well-crafted program can level the playing field for new candidates. I have seen candidates, especially incumbents, have access to wealthy donors. Because of this, it seems elected officials are more responsive to their donors instead of their constituents.

The representatives in office seem to do more for the donors that fund them and overlook any real issue going on in the district they represent.

The second part of having a comprehensive public financing program available can be a challenge depending on the demographics of a candidate’s district.

For example, the district that I am running to represent. We are a majority of working-class families. Our daily lives consist of providing for our families. Many of us are working two to three jobs, maybe even more to sustain our households and support our children in education and extracurriculars and what have you. The biggest help we can offer is not always monetary.

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

I absolutely support a process that would serve as a check on the activities of the Legislature. With a statewide citizens initiative, it will allow for a responsive Legislature working alongside the citizens. This makes for a more transparent Legislature.

But in order for this to happen, bills or measures that attempt to offer good solutions to these issues need to be given the time of day. We need more people in office, regardless of the side, to champion reforms that are for the best of the people.

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?

As communities go through changes, so should state legislators. Term limits allow for new ideas and new leadership with the changing of time.

Limiting terms shouldnʻt necessarily be looked at as a bad thing. Legislators who have a successful run in their position can use their acquired skills to make impacts and differences in other areas of government or in community positions in which they served their constituents.

Along the same lines, we must also look at term limits for other state departments, including the Board of Education and Department of Education. We must make a shift in governor-appointed positions to citizen-appointed positions, as Hawaii remains one of the few states that still allow this.

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?

The commonsense solution is to have full transparency to ensure accountability via the Sunshine Law. Also banning campaign contributions during session will allow members to carry out the job they were elected to do.

I fully support both and would like to see actual consequences handed down to any official who does not play nice and made public.

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?

Any legislator representing a district, should first and foremost be the voice of their constituents. As they represent their district, they should be bringing concerns, suggestions, and any feedback to the Legislature. Bills and measures being introduced should always represent the district’s best interests and not one’s own.

Year after year, there has been an astounding disconnect between representatives and the constituents they serve. To be held accountable in their district and Legislature, regular in-person town halls should be conducted to get the real matters brought to the table and properly communicated and represented on behalf of the constituents.

We must also consider putting a stop to or limiting state departments sending out election mailers to the public on preferred candidates that fit the state agenda.

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 find financial ways that will balance the amount of resources and spaces that visitors occupy and utilize when they are here in our islands.

Rental car fees should be imposed on any out-of-state visitor that goes directly to the maintenance and upkeep of roadways. Hotel fees should also go to maintenance and care of any public beach or facility on its property. Activity fees could also be added when tour groups that travel in herds utilize roadways, parks, beaches, etc.

We see a lot of bike tours on District 5 roads, which are some of the most narrow and dangerous roads on the island. These tours should be paying permitting fees that go straight to the roadways and infrastructure that they are dangerously using for their pleasure.

Utility fees for trash, electricity and water should also be considered. We are an isolated island chain in the middle of the Pacific with limited space. We need to find a balance that will take care of our infrastructure and resources because when vacation is over, we are the ones still here cleaning up the mess.

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?

To help middle class and working families, an emphasis needs to be put on education. Many seek opportunities elsewhere due to the high cost of living, lack of schooling and shortage of select job opportunities offered on-island. This could be due to the inability to obtain a specific degree here, or simply not having the credentials or experience required to to obtain a certain career.

To avoid this, I believe preparation for adulthood should start earlier than one’s senior year. Efforts need to be made to provide these same possibilities here in our island home that are sought out elsewhere so that residents can grow and thrive here.

Training and internships for trade careers should be prioritized as an option for students early on. By providing opportunities for students during the years of secondary schooling, they will have the option to graduate with their diploma and be equipped with skills to enter the workforce doing something that interests them.

We need to find that balance of keeping our children engaged in required coursework for graduation while offering skill-building courses in areas that interest them, prepare them and invest them in their future and our community.