Position Running For

State House of Representatives, District 16

What area(s) of the Island do you call home?

Lihue

What is your vision for a thriving agricultural sector on Kauai and how can the State support that vision?

A thriving agricultural sector on Kauaʻi is one that produces more food than we import, creates high quality local jobs, and keeps agricultural lands in active production for future generations. My family has been working toward this goal since 2010 when we started the algae farm to produce protein and oil. This will spur on other opportunities like aquaculture and ranching. Agriculture must remain a viable career path for local families, from small farmers and ranchers to larger operations. Families should have access to every option so they can choose what works best for them.

The state can support this vision through purchase agreements with local farmers to provide food for our schools. The current DOE goal is sourcing 30% of school food from local farms. The actual results are 5-8%. We need leaders who will make local agriculture a priority and hold government accountable for meeting its own goals.

The state should also invest in water infrastructure, support agricultural education, and reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers. This will help farmers get their products to market more efficiently and affordably and support local jobs.

If elected, how would you engage with the business community prior to your decision-making?

Good policy starts with listening to the people in our community, especially those who will be affected by it. I will regularly meet with business owners, industry groups, employees, and community organizations to understand the real-world impacts of proposed legislation.

I will host several town halls between Election Day and my first day in office to ensure every policy I introduce accurately reflects the priorities of our community. I will host industry specific meetings with businesses to allow for targeted feedback and respect their time. Because bills often change significantly during session, I will host town halls and industry specific meetings on weekends during session.

As a small business owner, I know firsthand that even well-intentioned policies can have unintended consequences. That’s why I believe every bill should be judged by its real-world impact, not just its stated intent. I will work to ensure the business community has a seat at the table early in the process, not after decisions have already been made. I will be accessible, responsive, and focused on practical solutions that help Kauaʻi businesses succeed while serving the broader community.

How would you help ensure that working middle class residents can afford to buy or rent a home on Kauaʻi?

I have developed a comprehensive plan to reduce the cost of housing for local residents without hurting the investment current homeowners have made. My vision goes beyond building more housing and cutting regulations. We need thoughtful growth that preserves the character of our island.

My plan includes a tax credit to reimburse property taxes, putting thousands of dollars back into the pockets of families who live and work on Kauaʻi. I will introduce a moratorium on state capital gains tax when a home is sold to an owner-occupant. This will put homes on the market while creating a strong financial incentive to sell at a reduced rate to local families instead of investors. To address the growing insurance crisis, I support state-backed insurance programs that stabilize the market and lower costs. I will introduce legislation that provides tax relief for long-term affordable rentals, making it more attractive to house local residents. The State must also invest in water and sewer capacity.

Over the past eight years, housing has become increasingly unaffordable for local families at an alarming pace. We can’t keep doing the same thing we’ve been trying and expect different results.

How would you effectively manage budget and operations compared to the past?

As a small business owner on Kaua‘i, I manage budgets by setting clear priorities, measuring results, and holding people accountable for performance. Every dollar we spend must produce value, because every revenue source is limited. Our government should operate with the same discipline. I will propose cutting many taxes.

Hawaiʻi’s budget has grown dramatically over the past decade, yet too many residents still struggle with affordability, housing, and confidence in government. We must reduce the burden on taxpayers and ensure their dollars are being spent efficiently to deliver measurable results. Spending more money is not the same as achieving better outcomes.

Good budgeting is about achieving the best return on investment for the people we serve. My goal is to help build a government that is fiscally responsible, transparent, and focused on delivering results that improve the lives of families and strengthen our business community.

I will also support requiring fiscal impact analyses for all legislation and focusing resources on core priorities such as infrastructure, public safety, and housing.

What specific ideas do you have about economic diversification and how would you develop these areas?

With a bachelor’s degree in quantitative economics and experience building a business on Kauaʻi, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we can diversify our economy. Hawaiʻi has incredible opportunities beyond tourism. We should continue strengthening agriculture while expanding industries like technology, healthcare, aquaculture, and value-added manufacturing. My own experience commercializing algae technology has shown me that innovation can create high-paying jobs right here on Kauaʻi. Diversification isn’t about replacing tourism, it’s about making sure our families aren’t dependent on one industry and have more opportunities to build successful careers without leaving the island.

Our efforts should focus on industries where Hawaiʻi has natural advantages. The state’s role is not to pick winners and losers, but to create an environment where businesses can succeed. That means investing in critical infrastructure, reducing unnecessary regulations, and providing a stable tax and regulatory climate to encourage long-term investment. This will create more family-sustaining jobs, reduce our dependence on tourism, and build a more resilient economy for future generations.

What are your priorities for infrastructure investment? How would you ensure that planned infrastructure projects (roads, wastewater, facilities, bridges, etc.) on Kauai move forward in a timely manner?

I will prioritize infrastructure investments that remove barriers to housing, improve public safety, and support economic growth. For Kauaʻi, that means expanding water and wastewater capacity, improving roads and bridges, and strengthening our resilience to natural disasters.

I support more coordination between state and county agencies, clear timelines for permit reviews, and ensuring agencies have the staffing needed to move projects efficiently.

We also need to focus on maintaining the infrastructure we already have. Deferring maintenance only increases costs for taxpayers and creates unnecessary disruptions for residents and businesses. Infrastructure should be viewed as an investment, not simply an expense.

For too long, government has spent more time studying problems than solving them. I will be actively engaged with state agencies, project managers, contractors, and community stakeholders throughout major infrastructure projects in my district. By understanding challenges early, I can work to remove legislative barriers, advocate for Kauaʻi’s priorities, and hold agencies accountable for making steady progress and delivering results.

What is your vision for effective management of the visitor industry so that economic goals are met while ensuring community and environmental concerns are addressed?

Tourism will continue to be a cornerstone of Kauaʻi’s economy, supporting thousands of local jobs and businesses. My vision is a balanced approach where tourism remains a strong economic engine but never comes at the expense of the people who call Kauaʻi home, especially Kanaka Maoli. At the same time, we cannot rely so heavily on tourism that our economy becomes vulnerable to the next downturn.

Success should not be measured solely by visitor numbers, but by whether tourism improves the quality of life for the people who live here. That means investing visitor-generated revenue into maintaining our roads, parks, beaches, and other infrastructure while protecting our cultural and natural resources. We also need to ensure tourism growth aligns with our infrastructure capacity and community priorities.

I consistently attend meetings where cultural and community issues are being discussed. Most of the times I don’t speak, I listen. Hearing those conversations help me better understand cultural perspectives so I can represent the people of Kauaʻi in a way that is respectful and empowering.

My approach is simple: when our residents thrive, our visitor industry will thrive.

What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kauaʻi? Please include your views on recycling, landfill site, source reduction, and other strategies.

Solid waste management requires a balanced approach that prioritizes reducing waste, extending the life of our landfill, and implementing practical, cost-effective solutions. There is no single answer, so we need to pursue multiple strategies at the same time.

First, we should prioritize source reduction by making it easier to generate less waste. Curbside recycling will play an important role. We should modernize our composting laws to allow new technology that turns organic waste into a valuable resource. I also support innovation and private-sector solutions, including exploring modern waste-to-energy technologies where they are environmentally and financially responsible.

As a state legislator, my role is to secure funding, remove unnecessary regulatory barriers, and work with the County to implement effective waste management strategies. Decisions about waste should be guided by sound science, environmental stewardship, and meaningful community input.

Ultimately, we need a solid waste system that protects our environment, is financially responsible, and provides reliable service for future generations.

As an elected official, what steps would you take to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Kauaʻi?

My work commercializing algae farming has focused on developing sustainable alternatives that reduce emissions while creating high-quality local jobs. Our company won an XPRIZE Carbon Removal Milestone Award that declared us one of the 15 most likely in the world (out of 1100+ applicants) to achieve gigaton scale carbon removal from the atmosphere (1,000,000 tons per year). Serving in the Legislature means stepping away from advancing that work full-time so I can help remove barriers and create opportunities for many other innovators and businesses to succeed.

As an elected official, my priority would be ensuring Kauaʻi is prepared for the impacts we are already experiencing while continuing to support innovation that strengthens both our economy and our environment. I support investing in resilient infrastructure, strengthening our water systems, improving wildfire prevention and response, and supporting industries that reduce emissions while creating family-sustaining jobs.

Government’s role should be to create an environment where innovation can thrive. Protecting Kauaʻi’s environment is an investment in our economy, our quality of life, and the future of our island.

What else would you like to share with the business community?

My campaign is centered on one goal: making Kauaʻi a place where our children can afford to build their future. This means lowering the cost of living, protecting taxpayers, improving infrastructure, expanding housing opportunities, supporting local businesses, and creating an economy that provides good-paying jobs.

The policies made in Honolulu directly affect employers, businesses, and families here on Kauaʻi. I commit to being accessible, responsive, and listening before making decisions. Our community deserves a real seat at the table, not another rubber stamp for Oʻahu-centric policies, political parties, or special interests.

My family intentionally chose to build our small business on Kaua‘i, not O‘ahu. I understand the challenges of meeting payroll, navigating regulations, managing rising costs, and planning for the future. Those experiences have shaped how I approach public service. Government should be a partner in creating opportunity, not an obstacle to success.

I will ask tough questions, demand accountability, and focus on results. I look forward to working with anyone who shares the goal of making Kauaʻi a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.