I built my own home, I have a 40-minute commute, and I spend over $1500 a month for groceries for me and my husband.
That starts with making smarter legislative decisions that lower the cost of living instead of adding to it. We need greater fiscal oversight, regular audits, and accountability to identify waste, fraud, and abuse so taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. We need practical housing policies that increase opportunities for local families and support good-paying jobs, small businesses, and agriculture.
I support exploring incentives for small businesses that invest in workforce training and employee development. At the same time, we need to reduce unnecessary regulations and create a business climate where employers can grow, invest, and create higher-paying jobs. Strong wages come from a strong private sector, not bigger government.
I believe we need to strengthen the connection between education and employment. Not every student wants or needs a four-year college degree, so I support expanding apprenticeships, career and technical education, and skilled trade programs that lead directly to well-paying careers.
We should support entrepreneurship, and encouraging industries such as agriculture, construction, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. The best way to create more living-wage jobs is to foster a strong private-sector economy that gives our young people a reason to build their future here in Hawaii.
There isn't a single solution to Hawaii's housing challenges, so we need a combination of practical approaches. I would like to explore expanding the use of high-quality prefabricated and modular housing, which can reduce construction costs and timelines. I also believe our district would benefit from more workforce housing that helps local teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, and other working families stay in our communities. We should also reexamine how accessory dwelling unit (ADU) policies are working. However, recent changes have expanded ADUs on agricultural land, requiring separate utility infrastructure can make these projects financially out of reach for many property owners.
Finally, while I do not support raising taxes, I think it's worth discussing market-based incentives that encourage owners of long-vacant homes to convert them into long-term housing for local residents. We need solutions that increase housing supply while respecting property rights.
My priority is helping local families compete in the housing market rather than restricting private property rights. I support expanding programs that give Hawaii residents an advantage when purchasing their primary home, strengthening first-time homebuyer assistance, and encouraging owner-occupied housing.
We should also review whether second homes, vacant homes, and speculative investment are contributing to the housing shortage and consider policies that increase housing availability for local families while respecting constitutional property rights.
I don't believe the state should be in the business of building homes. Government's role should be to create the conditions that allow the private sector to build more housing efficiently and affordably. That means streamlining permitting, reducing unnecessary regulations, reviewing fees and mandates that drive up construction costs, and encouraging private investment in workforce housing.
If we remove barriers instead of creating more bureaucracy, we can increase housing opportunities for local working families without expanding government.
One of the biggest drivers of Hawaii's high grocery prices is the cost of shipping nearly everything to the island. We need to identify and address the policies and regulations that continue to drive those transportation costs higher.
We should become more self-sufficient. Hawaii has the ability to grow food year-round, yet we still import much of what we consume. I support strengthening local agriculture, expanding community food hubs and farmers markets, and reducing barriers that make it difficult for local producers to get their products to consumers. The more food we can grow and buy locally, the less vulnerable we are to rising shipping costs and supply chain disruptions.
are both effective and fiscally responsible. Hawaii has a strong tradition of ʻohana, where grandparents and extended family often help care for children. I would like to explore ways to support kūpuna who provide childcare for their grandchildren, while also looking at policies that remove unnecessary barriers for licensed childcare providers so more options become available.
I believe any state assistance should be accountable, transparent, and carefully monitored. We owe it to taxpayers to ensure programs are effective, minimize waste and fraud, and truly help working families without creating long-term dependency.
"My long-term goal is to phase out Hawaii's state income tax as we make government more efficient and grow our economy. Families should be able to keep more of what they earn. But before reducing any major revenue source, we need to identify waste, improve government efficiency, and ensure we can maintain essential services responsibly.
Small businesses are the backbone of Hawaii's economy. 99.3% of Hawaii's businesses are small businesses, and they employ nearly half of our private-sector workforce. That means every time the Legislature considers new taxes, regulations, or mandates, it needs to ask whether those policies will help or hurt the businesses that keep our economy running. Hawaii is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive places to do business because of high taxes, costly regulations, permitting delays, and the high cost of utilities and shipping.
I would start by reviewing the impact of the General Excise Tax on local businesses, streamlining regulations, and reducing unnecessary barriers that make it harder to start, grow, and expand a business. When small businesses succeed, they create jobs, strengthen our communities, and grow our economy.
Transparency, accountability, and integrity are the very reasons I decided to run for this office. Public trust is earned, and government must demonstrate it is being a responsible steward of every taxpayer dollar.
Across our nation, we have seen examples of waste, fraud, abuse, and poor oversight that have undermined public confidence in government. Hawaii should be proactive, not reactive. My investigative background has taught me to ask the important questions: Why? How? Where is the money going? Are taxpayers receiving the results they were promised?
I support stronger audits, meaningful performance reviews, and ongoing oversight of taxpayer-funded programs. Every program should have clear goals, measurable outcomes, and regular evaluations to ensure it is delivering value. If a program is ineffective or no longer serves its purpose, we should have the courage to reform it or end it.
Government works best when it is transparent, accountable, and focused on serving the people—not protecting bureaucracy.
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