Christy Kikue MacPherson

Office: Senate District 14

Party: Democrat

Hawaiʻi’s affordability challenges affect nearly every aspect of daily life, from housing and education to healthcare, transportation, and childcare.
What are your personal experiences with the high cost of living in Hawaiʻi?

As a former single mom with over 30 years of experience as a grassroots community advocate, licensed social worker, and nonprofit leader, I live our community’s daily struggles. Throughout my career, I have been heavily involved in addressing the needs of our homeless and ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families.

Many local residents leave or are considering leaving Hawaiʻi because they can no longer afford to stay, or because they seek greater economic opportunity, and according to the 2020 Census, approximately 55% of Native Hawaiians now live outside of Hawaiʻi.
With negative net migration continuing to drain Hawaiʻi of its local population, how can we restore optimism and convince local working families and young professionals that they have a viable economic future in the islands?

We cannot restore optimism for our local working families and young professionals without sincere, practical soutions and a sense of urgency at the Legislature. Families need real help that they can feel in their pocketbooks and in their quality of life. We need to continue to fight for living wages that reflect Hawaiʻi's true cost of living and create employment opportunities that are meaningful while paying the bills. Our quality of life here has declined in recent years due to skyrocketing housing, medical and grocery costs. Crime and safety issues as well homelessness is a direct consequence of systemic factors. We need to bring our state stakeholders together consistently to examine our entire ecosystem, identify the gaps, and mobilize our government leaders to take action.

Having said that, the most important stakeholders are our community members most impacted by the current economic, social and environmental stressors they are experiencing in our islands. Their voices should be sought, valued and respected more than any policymaker. All sound public policy is a reflection of the needs that they bring to the table. Lawmakers can make suggestions as to how to address particular issues and should fight for policy solutions that the community decides they can fully get behind.

By investing in career pathways in our schools and promoting technical training that aligns with data, we can proactively shape a modern economy. This will pave the way for diversified, high-paying jobs, allowing our young people the opportunity to stay and thrive in Hawaiʻi.

Many employers report difficulty finding qualified workers, while many residents struggle to access career pathways that provide long-term financial stability. It is estimated that in the next decade, 170,000 keiki will enter the workforce, but only 100,000 living wage jobs will be available for them.
What are ways the State can improve workforce development efforts and ensure that enough living wage jobs will be available for youth entering the workforce?

We need to work in tandem with the University of Hawaiʻi and its Economic Research Organization (UHERO), as well as other organizations, to identify emerging trends. We must also aggressively support existing industries such as sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and small businesses by breaking down bureaucratic barriers to their success.

Housing experts recommend that a household spend no more than one-third of its income on housing costs. In its 2025 Employee Affordability Survey, Holomua Collective found that most local working families identify housing as the main driver of Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living. Most local families also said they are spending more than half of household income on housing costs.
What practical and actionable solutions do you have to lower housing costs?

All Hawaiʻi residents, from keiki to kūpuna, deserve safe, stable places to call home. That means that we need solutions like increasing LIHTC and other funding for existing public and low-income housing as well as mitigating rising shipping costs for supplies. Utilizing existing state and county-owned parcels to expand housing supply for working residents should be prioritized. Expanding rental subsidies and protecting renters from displacement would be prudent. I would support providing tax relief for local working-class homebuyers.

Hawai’i’s housing market is impacted and constrained by out-of-state and speculative buyers. A variety of solutions have been proposed to dedicate housing for local working families.
How do you propose we dedicate housing for local working families over out-of-state or speculative buyers?

It is critical that we level the playing field against out-of-state real estate speculation. Creating Community Land Trusts and deed restrictions should be considered. I don’t pretend to have all the answers for this issue as well as others, but I would support solid legislation that benefits our local families in securing and maintaining stable housing.

Hawai‘i needs tens of thousands of new homes, and every year we fall further behind, more local families are forced to leave.
What will you do to ensure the State quickly builds more housing for local working families before they are priced out of Hawai‘i?

In addition to the responses above, it is critical that the City and State work hand-in-hand to expedite the creation of housing for our local working families. For example, serious permitting and planning issues need to be addressed but they are under the purview of the City. However, LIHTC and other funding falls under the purview of the State. Coordination should continue to be the priority.

Nearly one in three Hawaiʻi households experience food insecurity. More than one in five households report skipping meals or going entire days without eating because they cannot afford enough food. With grocery prices 30–40% higher than the continent, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs.
How do you propose we reduce everyday living expenses like groceries?

I would like to see our lawmakers seriously consider making groceries, toiletries, medicine and other necessities tax-free. I am also a strong supporter of Universal Free School Meals legislation. For any child to go hungry while trying to learn in school is unacceptable. There are many ways to mitigate food waste so that argument is mute, in my opinion. I would love for Hawaiʻi to look into the possibility of establishing some government-owned grocery stores as well. This would prevent corporate price gouging and keep prices competitive.

Hawaiʻi families face some of the highest early childcare and education costs in the country, with center-based infant care averaging more than $24,000 annually. These costs often prevent parents from returning to work and pose a significant barrier to economic opportunity for working families.
How can the State make childcare and education costs more affordable?

Education is our greatest socio-economic equalizer, providing our most vulnerable youth a path to success. We need Universal Preschools so that our keiki can begin their lives at an advantage rather than at a disadvantage. Childcare costs could be reduced even further by increasing the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for low-income and ALICE families, for example.

If you could change one aspect of Hawaiʻi's tax system to improve affordability for local working families, what would it be and why?

Our state needs to continue what it started in addressing our inequitable tax structure. The GET is an example of a regressive tax structure. Those earning less should pay lower taxation rates. Those who earn more should pay higher taxation rates, and millionaires should be taxed at the highest rate. This is not rocket science- it is a progressive tax structure. And this would bring more money into our state to pay for all of the critical needs aforementioned.

Hawaiʻi ranks 49th overall nationally in America’s Top States for Business 2025. Local sentiment underscores this ranking, with Holomua Collective’s 2025 Employee Affordability Survey finding that only 19% of respondents believe Hawai‘i is a good place to do business.
Why do you believe Hawai‘i is seen as such a difficult place to do business, and how would you improve conditions for local businesses?

Hawaiʻi is a difficult place to do business because of a combination of city, state and federal policies. Working families are struggling and that translates to not being able to patronize and support our local businesses. I would be open to looking at tax breaks for small local businesses who pay living wages to their employees. Increasing shipping costs and gas prices have led to increases in everything that our local residents have to pay for. It is a systemic issue and the more we do to address all of the cost of living issues outlined above, the easier it will be for local businesses to thrive here in Hawaiʻi.

In a 2025 survey by Holomua Collective, only 20% of local working residents said that they had confidence in state and local government to do right by the people of Hawaiʻi.
What reforms would you support to improve transparency, accountability, trust, efficiency, and public confidence in state and local government?

Yes, and that is evidenced by our dismal voter turnout. Building back public confidence in our state and local government goes beyond passing legislation; it requires systemic changes in behavior and internal policies. It is critical that we continuously review campaign finance laws to ensure they promote transparency and accountability to the public. Laws are only as strong as their enforcement - we must also ensure that the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission is adequately funded and resourced. We also need to close loopholes that allow independent expenditure committees to mask the sources of their funds. Voters deserve to know who is paying for the ads hitting their mailboxes and social media. I also support modernizing our partial public financing system to allow grassroots candidates to afford to run competitive campaigns and level the playing field.

Elected and high-level officials must hold themselves to a higher standard of accountability. It’s challenging to rebuild trust when an entrenched incumbent culture prevents any real change in leadership. The prevailing public perception is that self-serving politicians have little interest in addressing the dire needs of those struggling in our islands. Fresh perspectives are needed to shift our culture and restore a government that is transparent, ethical, and accessible to our people.

Related Candidates

Donna Mercado Kim
No Response Received,Senate District 14

Democrat

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Christy Kikue MacPherson

Hawaiʻi’s affordability challenges affect nearly every aspect of daily life, from housing and education to healthcare, transportation, and childcare.
What are your personal experiences with the high cost of living in Hawaiʻi?

Hawai’i’s housing market is impacted and constrained by out-of-state and speculative buyers. A variety of solutions have been proposed to dedicate housing for local working families.
How do you propose we dedicate housing for local working families over out-of-state or speculative buyers?

Hawai‘i needs tens of thousands of new homes, and every year we fall further behind, more local families are forced to leave.
What will you do to ensure the State quickly builds more housing for local working families before they are priced out of Hawai‘i?

If you could change one aspect of Hawaiʻi's tax system to improve affordability for local working families, what would it be and why?

Related Candidates

Donna Mercado Kim

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